<p>The basis of 那儿 is from spoken language, and the addition of the 儿 is an example of a phonetic element in Chinese language. The "er" is an approximation of the sound, and is similar in meaning and use to 那里。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T22:37:16.050Z
Welcome to stack exchange! Take a look around! Have your first upvote.
temporary_user_name
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T20:32:38.000Z
2014-11-17T20:32:38.000Z
treetopdewdrop
<p>You want to type N-A-E-R to get 那儿.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-18T13:35:15.170Z
2014-11-18T13:35:15.170Z
Zihan Chen - vczh
<p>I will elaborate on my comment above, as you wished.</p>

<p>The main reason for this behavior of your IME software is that it is configured to make guesses about what you want to type. Since there are so many Chinese characters with the same pinyin initials and finals, it has to. But it also tries to save you from typing, so that you don't have to type out long sequences of pinyin to input something in Chinese. Here's some basic info:</p>

<p>In Chinese the Big Rule No. 1 is that:</p>

<p><em>Every character is one syllable and every syllable is one character.</em> (It's of course not true for 'erhua' 儿, but we'll get to that.)</p>

<p>A syllable can be represented with pinyin, where it has an <em>initial</em> and a <em>final</em>. (There are some vowel only syllables, of course). An initial is typically a consonant at the beginning of the syllable, while a final is a vowel (single or diphthong), optionally followed by -n or -ng (not all combinations are "valid", though, check such <a href="http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/pinyin-combo.php" rel="noreferrer">tables</a>.) </p>

<p>So to save you from typing to much you can omit the finals in one or all of the pinyin syllables you are typing out. e.g. You don't have to type: <code>zhongguo</code> to get <code>中国</code>, it's enough to type the initials <code>zhg</code> and you are given a list of options where either <code>这个</code> or <code>中国</code> is the first or second. Since <code>zhg</code> will not get you 中国 directly, but you have to choose, which takes effort and requires extra key hits (selecting the desired characters via a numeric key, or even browsing a long list of pages of characters), so you decide to refine your tactics and enter the final part of one ot the syllables. Let's say you decide for <code>zhguo</code> <code>(first initial + second full syllable)</code> which is perfect, because this will very likely get <code>中国</code> as the no. 1 result and you only have to hit the space bar and you're done. You could also try <code>zhongg</code> <code>(full first syllable + second initial)</code>, that will also work fine, but will require you to type more, since <code>zhongg</code> is longer than <code>zhguo</code>. So I hope you see, what we are doing, optimizing the input process (typing less and faster to get the same characters as by typing out every initial and final). </p>

<p>By now you have probably realized that when you type nar it is interpreted as <code>那人</code> <code>(first full syllable + second initial)</code> in the algorithm of your IME, that's why you are given this option. </p>

<p>The reason you think it should be giving you <code>那儿</code> is that you are not typing the correct pinyin for <code>那儿</code>. This is a strange phonetic phenomenon of Northern Chinese speakers, especially Beijing and surrounding geographic areas, but it is not found or rarely found in other parts of China, especially in the South. This <em>erhua</em> final -r is sort of an exception in the Chinese phonology, since the only finals in Chinese are those that end in a vowel (like, -ao, -ua, -ie, etc.) and those that end in -n or -ng (-an, -un, -ang, -iang, etc.) If you check the pinyin table above, there are no syllables that end in -r (except for er, which then again is a full valid syllable). But since Northern speakers retain these final <em>-r</em>s it gets some sort of representation in writing throug 儿 (er), which in these cases is reduced to an <em>r</em> sound and also modifies the final of the preceding syllable (this mostly means that final -n and -ng are dropped, like <code>点儿</code> dian'r --> "diar" [approx.])</p>

<p>So by now, you should have an understanding of this <em>erhua</em> syllable. I am not qualified to decide whether this is a Northern slang or it is widely accepted in speech in writing in the North (since I have never lived there) but I do know that in the South this <em>-r</em> is very rarely heard and almost never written. A Southern speaker of Mandarin will use <code>这里</code>，<code>那里</code> both in speech and writing instead of <code>这儿</code> and <code>那儿</code> and will simply omit 儿 even in cases where it is a fix part of words (in the North) like <code>点儿</code>, <code>事儿</code>, etc. these are simply 点 and <code>事</code>, since those <code>儿</code> absolutely add no meaning to them, let alone the fact that 儿 originally means 'son', so this <em>erhua</em> use of 儿 is really only a "phonetic stop-gap measure" and IMHO should be avoided in writing for this reason, but also because of the speed of typing. (Type only what you need to type, don't add an extra character which doesn't alter the meaning). So I would say replace <code>那儿</code> with <code>那里</code> and omit 儿 in writing everywhere you can. (OK, if you are a big fan of <em>erhua</em> and like this because you have lived in Beijing, then it's up to you, but otherwise I don't see any point why one would write like this)</p>

<p>I really don't know if this amateurish "crash course" is useful to you or not, it is based on my experience using IME software and personal opinion on 'erhua'.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-18T19:40:45.950Z
Now that I have read the whole thing, I can say for sure YES IT IS VERY HELPFUL. But, like, since I only know 那儿, I have no idea what 那里 is or sounds like, so I have to go look that up.
temporary_user_name
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-18T19:44:12.643Z
So you're saying (so far as you know) na4li3 (那里) is generally more common and should be preferred over the erhua-ized version, nar4 (那儿)?
temporary_user_name
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-18T19:52:40.977Z
@Aerovistae They may be used equally often or the one more than the other, depending on the geographic location, but 那里 (and other 'non-erhua' forms) is understood and accepted throughout everywhere where Mandarin Chinese is spoken while the 'erhua' variants only in the North. Some might argue there is nothing wrong with 'erhua', I'm fine with that, I am only advocating that 儿 should not be used in writing (it adds no extra meaning and means more typing).
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-18T09:44:27.230Z
2014-11-18T10:25:28.243Z
2014-11-18T10:25:28.243Z
imrek
<p>I was confused to find that <code>nar4</code> is 那儿. I cannot figure out how to reproduce this with a pinyin IME. I type <code>na</code> and it gets the first character but when I type <code>r</code> it suggests 人 and refuses to let me combine it with the previous character to get <code>nar4</code>.</p>

<p>Why is the second character "silent" here? Do I have to know that character's name / pronunciation and type it in on its own in order to get it via IME?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T03:37:36.873Z
Type `naer` via IME. Pronounce it as [`儿化音`](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhua).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T08:58:10.403Z
The reason is the fuzzy behavior of IME software. It tries to be smart enough to save you from hitting a lot of keys on your keyboard, but there are just key combinations which collide. Sometimes you will need to use a ' (apostrohpe) to separate the syllable to get the desired character combinations, like "qie" will get you characters that are just one syllable, but "qi'e" will give you 企鹅 (penguin). Btw, in writing I would avoid typing these 儿化 儿s, and replace 那儿 with 那里 and or completely avoid it where it is unnecessary, e.g. 小孩 instead of 小孩儿.
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-17T18:48:18.917Z
Your final sentence in that comment, relating to suggested replacements, I totally didn't understand at all. I don't know those characters/words yet. Could you make your comment into an answer so I can accept it? And maybe explain that sentence like you're talking to a 5 year old?
temporary_user_name
<characters><pinyin><input-methods>
Why is 那儿 just one syllable?
# Why is 那儿 just one syllable?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-11-17)

I was confused to find that `nar4` is 那儿. I cannot figure out how to reproduce this with a pinyin IME. I type `na` and it gets the first character but when I type `r` it suggests 人 and refuses to let me combine it with the previous character to get `nar4`.

Why is the second character "silent" here? Do I have to know that character's name / pronunciation and type it in on its own in order to get it via IME?

**Tags:** characters, pinyin, input-methods

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Type `naer` via IME. Pronounce it as [`儿化音`](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erhua).  
> **username_2**: The reason is the fuzzy behavior of IME software. It tries to be smart enough to save you from hitting a lot of keys on your keyboard, but there are just key combinations which collide. Sometimes you will need to use a ' (apostrohpe) to separate the syllable to get the desired character combinations, like "qie" will get you characters that are just one syllable, but "qi'e" will give you 企鹅 (penguin). Btw, in writing I would avoid typing these 儿化 儿s, and replace 那儿 with 那里 and or completely avoid it where it is unnecessary, e.g. 小孩 instead of 小孩儿.  
> **username_0**: Your final sentence in that comment, relating to suggested replacements, I totally didn't understand at all. I don't know those characters/words yet. Could you make your comment into an answer so I can accept it? And maybe explain that sentence like you're talking to a 5 year old?  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-11-18. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

I will elaborate on my comment above, as you wished.

The main reason for this behavior of your IME software is that it is configured to make guesses about what you want to type. Since there are so many Chinese characters with the same pinyin initials and finals, it has to. But it also tries to save you from typing, so that you don't have to type out long sequences of pinyin to input something in Chinese. Here's some basic info:

In Chinese the Big Rule No. 1 is that:

*Every character is one syllable and every syllable is one character.* (It's of course not true for 'erhua' 儿, but we'll get to that.)

A syllable can be represented with pinyin, where it has an *initial* and a *final*. (There are some vowel only syllables, of course). An initial is typically a consonant at the beginning of the syllable, while a final is a vowel (single or diphthong), optionally followed by -n or -ng (not all combinations are "valid", though, check such [tables](http://www.yellowbridge.com/chinese/pinyin-combo.php).)

So to save you from typing to much you can omit the finals in one or all of the pinyin syllables you are typing out. e.g. You don't have to type: `zhongguo` to get `中国`, it's enough to type the initials `zhg` and you are given a list of options where either `这个` or `中国` is the first or second. Since `zhg` will not get you 中国 directly, but you have to choose, which takes effort and requires extra key hits (selecting the desired characters via a numeric key, or even browsing a long list of pages of characters), so you decide to refine your tactics and enter the final part of one ot the syllables. Let's say you decide for `zhguo` `(first initial + second full syllable)` which is perfect, because this will very likely get `中国` as the no. 1 result and you only have to hit the space bar and you're done. You could also try `zhongg` `(full first syllable + second initial)`, that will also work fine, but will require you to type more, since `zhongg` is longer than `zhguo`. So I hope you see, what we are doing, optimizing the input process (typing less and faster to get the same characters as by typing out every initial and final).

By now you have probably realized that when you type nar it is interpreted as `那人` `(first full syllable + second initial)` in the algorithm of your IME, that's why you are given this option.

The reason you think it should be giving you `那儿` is that you are not typing the correct pinyin for `那儿`. This is a strange phonetic phenomenon of Northern Chinese speakers, especially Beijing and surrounding geographic areas, but it is not found or rarely found in other parts of China, especially in the South. This *erhua* final -r is sort of an exception in the Chinese phonology, since the only finals in Chinese are those that end in a vowel (like, -ao, -ua, -ie, etc.) and those that end in -n or -ng (-an, -un, -ang, -iang, etc.) If you check the pinyin table above, there are no syllables that end in -r (except for er, which then again is a full valid syllable). But since Northern speakers retain these final *-r*s it gets some sort of representation in writing throug 儿 (er), which in these cases is reduced to an *r* sound and also modifies the final of the preceding syllable (this mostly means that final -n and -ng are dropped, like `点儿` dian'r --> "diar" [approx.])

So by now, you should have an understanding of this *erhua* syllable. I am not qualified to decide whether this is a Northern slang or it is widely accepted in speech in writing in the North (since I have never lived there) but I do know that in the South this *-r* is very rarely heard and almost never written. A Southern speaker of Mandarin will use `这里`，`那里` both in speech and writing instead of `这儿` and `那儿` and will simply omit 儿 even in cases where it is a fix part of words (in the North) like `点儿`, `事儿`, etc. these are simply 点 and `事`, since those `儿` absolutely add no meaning to them, let alone the fact that 儿 originally means 'son', so this *erhua* use of 儿 is really only a "phonetic stop-gap measure" and IMHO should be avoided in writing for this reason, but also because of the speed of typing. (Type only what you need to type, don't add an extra character which doesn't alter the meaning). So I would say replace `那儿` with `那里` and omit 儿 in writing everywhere you can. (OK, if you are a big fan of *erhua* and like this because you have lived in Beijing, then it's up to you, but otherwise I don't see any point why one would write like this)

I really don't know if this amateurish "crash course" is useful to you or not, it is based on my experience using IME software and personal opinion on 'erhua'.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Now that I have read the whole thing, I can say for sure YES IT IS VERY HELPFUL. But, like, since I only know 那儿, I have no idea what 那里 is or sounds like, so I have to go look that up.  
> **username_0**: So you're saying (so far as you know) na4li3 (那里) is generally more common and should be preferred over the erhua-ized version, nar4 (那儿)?  
> **username_2**: @Aerovistae They may be used equally often or the one more than the other, depending on the geographic location, but 那里 (and other 'non-erhua' forms) is understood and accepted throughout everywhere where Mandarin Chinese is spoken while the 'erhua' variants only in the North. Some might argue there is nothing wrong with 'erhua', I'm fine with that, I am only advocating that 儿 should not be used in writing (it adds no extra meaning and means more typing).  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-11-17. Score: 2

The basis of 那儿 is from spoken language, and the addition of the 儿 is an example of a phonetic element in Chinese language. The "er" is an approximation of the sound, and is similar in meaning and use to 那里。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Welcome to stack exchange! Take a look around! Have your first upvote.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-11-18. Score: 0

You want to type N-A-E-R to get 那儿.


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