那个” as a filler word in Chinese

In conversation, you may find yourself at a loss for words, unable to find the correct phrase you are looking for, or simply needing time to gather your thoughts. When you experience this feeling, in English, you may say "umm" or another filler word. In Chinese, the word for this is 那个 (nèige). (The word 那个 can be pronounced both "nàge" and "nèige," but for this usage, "nèige" is normally used.)

在对话中，或许你会发现自己对词汇不知所措，无法找到自己所要的正确词组，或需要时间理清思绪。当你有这种感觉时，在英语里你可能会说"umm"或其它的填充词，而中文里，这样的词则是"那个"。（"那个"这一词发音可以是"nàge"，也可以是"nèige"，但该用法一般使用"nèige"的发音。）

In English, words like "umm" and "uh" are used as filler words when you're thinking about what to say. In Chinese, 那个 (nèige) is also used for this purpose. It's very common in Chinese and you'll hear it quite often around Chinese speakers.

英语里，在你思考要说什么的时候，会用到类似"umm"和"uh"的填充词。中文里，"那个"也是这样的用途。这个在中文里很常见，你会常常会听见中文母语者说到这个词。

(那个……) (那个……) + [anything] + (那个……)

那个 (nèige) can be inserted into sentences wherever you need to pause for thought. This is similar to the use of "umm" or "you know" or "like" in English.

"那个"可以插入到句子中你需要暂停去思考的地方，这类似英语里"umm"、"you know"或"like"的用法。

Examples

例子

那个……我不和你们一起吃饭了，好吗？

nèige… wǒ bù hé nǐmen yīqǐ chīfàn le, hǎo ma?

So, umm… I won't eat with you guys, OK?

我想吃那个……那个……湖南菜。

wǒ xiǎng chī nèige… nèige… húnán cài.

I want to eat that… umm, you know… Hunan cuisine.

那个……我明天不来了。

nèige… wǒ míngtiān bù lái le.

Umm… I'm not coming tomorrow.

那个……这样做不好吧？

nèige… zhèyàng zuò bù hǎo ba?

Umm, it's not good to do it this way?

那个……你可以做我的女朋友吗？

nèige… nǐ kěyǐ zuò wǒ de nǚpéngyou ma?

Like… could you be my girlfriend?

那个……不好意思，我要走了。

nèige… bùhǎoyìsi, wǒ yào zǒu le.

Ummmm… sorry, but I've gotta go.

那个……我要去开会了。

nèige… wǒ yào qù kāihuì le.

Umm… I have to attend a meeting.

昨天那个……那个……小笼包真好吃。

zuótiān nèige… nèige… xiǎolóngbāo zhēn hǎochī.

Yesterday the, you know, steamed soup dumplings were so delicious.

Translated from: allsetlearning

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