<p>[这么 + adjective] = [this + adjective] referring to something close by</p>

<p>[那么 + adjective] = [that + adjective] referring to something that is not close by</p>

<ul>
<li><p>你<strong>这么</strong>高，means "you are <strong>this</strong> tall" (talk about here and now) </p></li>
<li><p>你<strong>那么</strong>高，means "you are <strong>that</strong> tall" (talk about a situation not in the present) </p></li>
</ul>

<p><em>For example, the reason you were accepted into the basketball team is because you were <strong>that tall</em></strong> </p>

<ul>
<li><p>你<strong>这个</strong>男朋友是不是矮了点儿? "Isn't <strong>this</strong> boyfriend of yours a little bit too short?" (the boyfriend is either right there with them or they are referring him as the object of discussion in front of them)</p></li>
<li><p>你<strong>那个</strong>男朋友是不是矮了点儿? "Isn't <strong>that</strong> boyfriend of yours a little bit too short?" (the boyfriend is not right there with them)</p></li>
</ul>

<p>'this tall'  and 'that tall' can be replaced by 'so tall'</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T17:45:24.757Z
Thanks. Is 那个你男朋友 an invalid sentence? Should 你 always precedes 那个?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T20:32:46.717Z
'你那个(object)'  means. 'that (object) of yours '  On the other hand,  '那个你' means ' That you' - for example, 三年前的 那个你
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T04:15:47.727Z
2017-10-21T04:22:07.070Z
2017-10-21T04:22:07.070Z
Tang Ho
<p>I'd say 这么 is more 'closer to you' than 那么.  </p>

<p>For example: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你和我关系这么好。</p>
  
  <p>你和他关系那么好。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Compare 你这么高 with 你那么高. 你这么高 sounds that you are standing the viewpoint of your interlocutor, it's like saying 你这么高(or 咱这么高)，他能比得了吗？. 你那么高 sounds that you are trying to exclude yourself from your interlocutor, it's like saying 你那么高， 我可比不了。. </p>

<p>你这个男朋友 is referring to <strong>this</strong> boyfriend, which might imply this is kind of characteristic of his boyfriend.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T04:19:08.713Z
2017-10-21T04:28:31.270Z
2017-10-21T04:28:31.270Z
dan
<p>Both 这么 and 那么 mean "so" or "such" (among other meanings). For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你这么高，你这个男朋友是不是矮了点儿?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In these contexts, is there any difference if you replace 这么 with 那么?</p>

<p>Also, generally is there any difference between 这么 and 那么, and how can I use it properly?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T03:34:47.343Z
BTW why is this sentence not "你男朋友" but "你这个男朋友"...? Maybe they are talking while pointing out to a picture...?
Blaszard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T08:31:00.833Z
basic grammar, e.g.  ＂实用现代汉语语法＂指示代词（Demonstrative pronouns) 指示代词中最基本的是表示  **近**  指的＂这＂和表示  **远**  指的＂那"  ，其他指示代词都是由它们派生出来的。按照性质和用法，指示代词可分为几小类：。。。指别或称代（substitution）性质、方式、程度：这么、这样、这么样｜那么、那样、那么样
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-21T17:39:26.417Z
Does she has another 男朋友, otherwise it is not very polite to addressing someone like this. There is a saying 别跟我这个那个的.
sfy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-14T03:25:48.200Z
“这个” indicates an attitude of disapproval or disrespectful in this context.
Situ Chinese
<word-choice><word><adverbs>
How can I use 这么/那么 properly?
# How can I use 这么/那么 properly?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-10-21)

Both 这么 and 那么 mean "so" or "such" (among other meanings). For example:

> 你这么高，你这个男朋友是不是矮了点儿?

In these contexts, is there any difference if you replace 这么 with 那么?

Also, generally is there any difference between 这么 and 那么, and how can I use it properly?

**Tags:** word-choice, word, adverbs

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: BTW why is this sentence not "你男朋友" but "你这个男朋友"...? Maybe they are talking while pointing out to a picture...?  
> **username_1**: basic grammar, e.g.  ＂实用现代汉语语法＂指示代词（Demonstrative pronouns) 指示代词中最基本的是表示  **近**  指的＂这＂和表示  **远**  指的＂那"  ，其他指示代词都是由它们派生出来的。按照性质和用法，指示代词可分为几小类：。。。指别或称代（substitution）性质、方式、程度：这么、这样、这么样｜那么、那样、那么样  
> **username_2**: Does she has another 男朋友, otherwise it is not very polite to addressing someone like this. There is a saying 别跟我这个那个的.  
> **username_3**: “这个” indicates an attitude of disapproval or disrespectful in this context.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-10-21. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

[这么 + adjective] = [this + adjective] referring to something close by

[那么 + adjective] = [that + adjective] referring to something that is not close by

* 你**这么**高，means "you are **this** tall" (talk about here and now)
* 你**那么**高，means "you are **that** tall" (talk about a situation not in the present)

*For example, the reason you were accepted into the basketball team is because you were **that tall***

* 你**这个**男朋友是不是矮了点儿? "Isn't **this** boyfriend of yours a little bit too short?" (the boyfriend is either right there with them or they are referring him as the object of discussion in front of them)
* 你**那个**男朋友是不是矮了点儿? "Isn't **that** boyfriend of yours a little bit too short?" (the boyfriend is not right there with them)

'this tall' and 'that tall' can be replaced by 'so tall'

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. Is 那个你男朋友 an invalid sentence? Should 你 always precedes 那个?  
> **username_4**: '你那个(object)'  means. 'that (object) of yours '  On the other hand,  '那个你' means ' That you' - for example, 三年前的 那个你  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-10-21. Score: 1

I'd say 这么 is more 'closer to you' than 那么.

For example:

> 你和我关系这么好。
>
> 你和他关系那么好。

Compare 你这么高 with 你那么高. 你这么高 sounds that you are standing the viewpoint of your interlocutor, it's like saying 你这么高(or 咱这么高)，他能比得了吗？. 你那么高 sounds that you are trying to exclude yourself from your interlocutor, it's like saying 你那么高， 我可比不了。.

你这个男朋友 is referring to **this** boyfriend, which might imply this is kind of characteristic of his boyfriend.


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