那么 / 这么 + Adj. (so, this/that much)

• Pinyin: nàme / zhème
• Formation: Subj. + 那么 / 这么 + Adj.
• Hanzi breakdown: 那 = 冄 + 阝(place) — 'that'; 这 = 辶 (walk) + 文 (writing) — 'this'

Meaning

那么 and 这么 are placed before adjectives to mean 'so' or 'this/that much,' indicating a high degree. 这么 refers to something present or near (proximal), while 那么 refers to something distant, recalled, or reported (distal).

Both 那么 and 这么 function as degree adverbs that modify adjectives, similar to 'so' or 'that' in English exclamations. 这么 is chosen when the speaker is directly experiencing or witnessing the quality, while 那么 is used for things remembered, heard about, or more abstract. They carry a demonstrative force that 很 (very) lacks — they imply 'to this/that specific extent' rather than just general intensification. A common pattern is 这么/那么 + Adj. + 的 + Noun for modifying nouns. In questions, 这么 often expresses surprise: 怎么这么贵？ Learners sometimes overuse 很 where 这么/那么 would be more natural and expressive.

Examples

1. 今天的天气这么好，我们出去走走吧。 The weather is so nice today — let's go out for a walk.
2. 没想到这道菜那么辣。 I didn't expect this dish to be that spicy.
3. 你怎么这么早就到了？ How did you get here so early?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: exclamatory

Do Say

• 外面这么冷，你多穿点衣服吧。
• 他的普通话说得那么流利，像是北京人。
• 这本书这么厚，你什么时候能看完？

Don't Say

• 天气这么的好。(这么 directly modifies the adjective — do not add 的 between 这么 and the adjective) → 天气这么好。
• 我那么很喜欢这首歌。(那么 and 很 are both degree adverbs — do not stack them together; use one or the other) → 我那么喜欢这首歌。
• 这么他跑得快。(这么 must directly precede the adjective it modifies, not the subject — restructure the sentence) → 他跑得这么快。

Origin & History

这么 and 那么 combine the demonstrative pronouns 这 (this) and 那 (that) with 么, a suffix indicating manner or degree. They extend the spatial near/far distinction of demonstratives into the domain of degree and intensity.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal