Introduction
Someone tells you how things stand, and you draw the conclusion out loud: 你不去？那我也不去。(Nǐ bú qù? Nà wǒ yě bú qù.) — You're not going? Then neither am I. This 那 (nà) points back at what was just said, not at anything in the room.
Overview
Structure: [what was just said] ，那 (nà) + [Clause]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ……，那 + Clause | 你不去，那我也不去。(Nǐ bú qù, nà wǒ yě bú qù.) | You're not going, then nor am I. |
| 那 + 就 | 那就明天吧。(Nà jiù míngtiān ba.) | Tomorrow, then. |
| 那 opening a reply | 那我们走吧。(Nà wǒmen zǒu ba.) | Let's go, then. |
| 那么 (fuller form) | 那么，我们开始吧。(Nàme, wǒmen kāishǐ ba.) | Well then, let's begin. |
| 那 = that | 那是我的书。(Nà shì wǒ de shū.) | That's my book. |
Two different 那 (nà), told apart by where they sit:
- At the start of a clause, picking up what was just said, it is a conjunction: 那我们走吧。(Nà wǒmen zǒu ba.)
- In front of a noun or 是 (shì), pointing at something, it is "that": 那是我的书。(Nà shì wǒ de shū.)
- It pairs constantly with 就 (jiù), which tightens the conclusion: 那就明天吧。(Nà jiù míngtiān ba.)
- 那么 (nàme) is the fuller, more written form of the same word; speech prefers plain 那 (nà).
Examples
你不去，那我也不去。
Nǐ bú qù, nà wǒ yě bú qù.
If you're not going, then I'm not either.
今天太晚了，那就明天吧。
Jīntiān tài wǎn le, nà jiù míngtiān ba.
It's too late today — tomorrow, then.
你没时间，那我找别人。
Nǐ méi shíjiān, nà wǒ zhǎo biéren.
You've no time? Then I'll ask someone else.
那我们走吧。
Nà wǒmen zǒu ba.
Let's be off, then.
下雨了，那我们在家吃吧。
Xià yǔ le, nà wǒmen zài jiā chī ba.
It's raining, so let's eat at home.
你喜欢这个，那就买这个。
Nǐ xǐhuan zhège, nà jiù mǎi zhège.
You like this one? Get this one, then.
Usage Notes
- 那 (nà) almost always opens your turn in a conversation. It takes what the other person just said and runs one step further with it.
- 就 (jiù) after it is close to automatic when a decision follows: 那就明天吧 (nà jiù míngtiān ba)、那就这样吧 (nà jiù zhèyàng ba).
- It is not the same as 所以 (suǒyǐ). 所以 (suǒyǐ) reports a cause and its result inside one speaker's sentence; 那 (nà) reacts to someone else.
- The clause after it often ends in 吧 (ba), because a conclusion drawn aloud is usually a suggestion.
- A comma, not 的话 (dehuà), is all that is needed in front of it at this level.