nàge nánháizi zài gōngyuán lǐ dǎlánqiú.

That boy is playing basketball in the park.

Breakdown of nàge nánháizi zài gōngyuán lǐ dǎlánqiú.

• 在zài: at
• 公园gōngyuán: park
• 里lǐ: inside
• 打篮球dǎlánqiú: to play basketball

Questions & Answers about nàge nánháizi zài gōngyuán lǐ dǎlánqiú.

Why is there a 个 in 那个男孩子?

个 is a measure word/classifier. In Mandarin, when you use 这 or 那 before most nouns, you usually need a classifier in between.

The pattern is:

这 / 那 + measure word + noun

So:

• 那个男孩子 = that boy
• literally: that + classifier + boy

For people and many everyday nouns, 个 is the most common general classifier.

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Can I say 那男孩子 without 个?

In standard Mandarin, that usually sounds incomplete or unnatural.

You normally say:

• 那个男孩子

not:

• 那男孩子

So for learners, it is best to remember that 这/那 usually need a classifier before the noun.

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How is 那个 pronounced here?

It is usually pronounced nàge in normal speech, with 个 often becoming a neutral tone.

So although the dictionary tone for 个 is fourth tone, in this phrase learners will often hear:

• nàge

rather than a very strong:

• nàgè

This is very common in natural spoken Mandarin.

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What is the difference between 男孩子 and 男孩?