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tā hái xiǎng mǎi nà běn shū.

她tā　还hái　想xiǎng　买mǎi　那nà　本běn　书shū。tā hái xiǎng mǎi nà běn shū.
She still wants to buy that book.
FromLesson 3inHardcore Chinese

Questions & Answers about tā hái xiǎng mǎi nà běn shū.

What does bold 还 (hái) mean here—“still” or “also”?

Both are possible; context decides.

  • As “still” (continuation of a previous state): 她之前就想买那本书，现在还想买。= She already wanted it before; she still wants it now.
  • As “also/in addition” (adding another item or action by the same subject): 她想买这本书，还想买那本书。= She wants to buy this book and also that one.
Where should bold 还 go in the sentence?

Place 还 right after the subject and before the main verb or adjective.

  • Correct: 她还想买那本书。
  • Don’t say: 她想还买那本书 (unnatural for this meaning).
  • Note: If you’re stating an additional completed action, you can say 她还买了那本书 (She also bought that book).
What’s the nuance difference between bold 想, 要, and 想要?
  • 想 + V: would like to; a tentative or polite desire. 她想买那本书。
  • 要 + V: intend to/will; stronger determination or plan. 她要买那本书。
  • 想要 + N/V: want (to have); with nouns it’s common: 她想要那本书。 With verbs, it’s common in Taiwan; on the Mainland, many prefer 想 + V or 要 + V.
Why is bold 本 between bold 那 and bold 书? Can I say 那书?

Chinese requires a measure word (classifier) with demonstratives and numbers. For books, the classifier is 本:

  • Pattern: 这/那 + 量词 + 名词 → 那本书
  • Saying 那书 is unnatural in standard Mandarin.
Can I use bold 个 instead of bold 本 and say 那个书?
No. 书 has a specific classifier 本, so 那个书 sounds wrong. Use 那本书. The general classifier 个 is for nouns without a specific classifier or in some casual contexts, but not for 书.
Is bold 还 pronounced hái or huán here?
Here it’s hái (“still; also”). The pronunciation huán belongs to a different word meaning “to return” (e.g., 还书 huán shū = return a book).
How do tones change when saying the whole sentence naturally?
  • Underlying pinyin with tones: tā hái xiǎng mǎi nà běn shū
  • Third-tone sandhi: xiǎng mǎi → xiáng mǎi
  • Colloquial option: 那 nà often becomes nèi before a classifier: nèi běn
  • A natural read: tā hái xiáng mǎi nèi běn shū
I mix up bold 那 (nà/nèi) “that” and bold 哪 (nǎ) “which.” How do I tell them apart?
  • 那 (nà/nèi) = that. Example: 那本书 (that book).
  • 哪 (nǎ) = which. Example: 哪本书 (which book?). They differ in tone and meaning: nà/nèi is 4th tone; nǎ is 3rd tone.
Can I drop bold 买 and say 她还想那本书?

No. You need a main verb. 想 alone means “to think” or “to miss,” not “want (that thing)” unless you use 想要:

  • Want that book: 她想要那本书 / 她要那本书。
  • Want to buy that book: 她想买那本书 / 她要买那本书。
Why is there no bold 了 here? How would I say “She still hasn’t bought that book”?

The sentence expresses desire, not a completed action, so no 了. To say “still hasn’t bought”:

  • 她还没(有)买那本书。 = She still hasn’t bought that book. To emphasize the ongoing state, you can add a particle:
  • 她还想买那本书呢。 (soft, “still” feel)
How do I say “buy it again” or “buy another copy”?
  • Future repetition: use 再. 她想再买那本书。= She wants to buy that book again.
  • Past repetition: use 又 (+ 了). 她又买了那本书。= She bought that book again.
  • Another copy: 她想再买一本。(Context implies the same book.)
Can I omit bold 那 to mean books in general?

Yes.

  • 她还想买书 = She still wants to buy books (general/unspecified).
  • 她还想买那本书 = She still wants to buy that specific book.
How do I emphasize “that exact book”?
  • Add the numeral for focus: 那一本书 (that very one).
  • Or use focus: 就是那本书。For example: 她还想买，就是那本书。
Can I front the object for emphasis?

Yes, topicalization is natural:

  • 那本书，她还想买。 = As for that book, she still wants to buy it. This highlights the topic “that book.”
Any common mix-ups between bold 买 (mǎi) “buy” and bold 卖 (mài) “sell”?

Yes—tone confusion flips the meaning.

  • 买 mǎi (3rd tone) = buy. 她还想买那本书。
  • 卖 mài (4th tone) = sell. 她还想卖那本书。= She still wants to sell that book.
Are there other measure words for reading materials I should know?
  • 一本杂志 (a magazine). You can also specify issue: 一期杂志 (one issue).
  • 一份报纸 (a newspaper).
  • Books take 本: 一本/那本书.
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