nàge nánrén zài liàng yīfu.

那个 means that.

The 个 is a measure word / classifier. In Chinese, when you say this/that + noun, you usually need a classifier in between:

• 这 + 个 + 男人 = this man
• 那 + 个 + 男人 = that man

So 那个男人 literally follows the pattern that + classifier + man.

个 is a very common general classifier, and it works naturally with 男人 here.

This sentence follows a very common Chinese pattern:

Subject + 在 + Verb + Object

So:

• 那个男人 = the man
• 在 = indicates an action is in progress
• 晾 = hang out / air-dry
• 衣服 = clothes

So the structure is basically:

That man + is + air-drying + clothes

Chinese word order is often close to English here, except that the progressive marker 在 goes directly before the verb.

Here, 在 shows that an action is currently in progress, similar to English is ...-ing.

So:

• 在晾衣服 = is hanging clothes out to dry / is air-drying clothes

This is different from 在 meaning at / in / on as a location word. Chinese uses the same character, but the function depends on the sentence.

Compare:

• 他在家。 = He is at home.
• 他在晾衣服。 = He is hanging clothes out to dry.

晾 means to air, air-dry, or hang something out to dry.

In this sentence, it usually means the man has washed the clothes already and is now hanging them up so they can dry.

It is not exactly the same as:

• 洗 = wash
• 晒 = dry in the sun / expose to sunlight

晾 focuses more on letting something dry by being hung up or left in the air. It does not always emphasize direct sunlight.

Chinese does not usually use a separate word like English is when talking about an action in progress.

In English, we say:

• The man is hanging clothes out to dry.

In Chinese, the progressive idea is often shown with 在 before the verb:

• 那个男人在晾衣服。

So 在 is doing part of the job that is ...-ing does in English.

衣服 can mean clothes in a general sense. In this sentence, it is best understood as clothes rather than a single item of clothing.

Chinese nouns usually do not have separate singular and plural forms the way English nouns do. The number is often understood from context.

So:

• 晾衣服 usually means hanging clothes out to dry
• If you specifically wanted to say one piece of clothing, you would normally add a number and classifier, such as 一件衣服

Because 衣服 is being used as a general object: to dry clothes.

In Chinese, classifiers are needed in certain situations, especially after numbers and demonstratives:

• 一件衣服 = one piece of clothing
• 那件衣服 = that piece of clothing

But when a noun appears as a general object after a verb, you often do not need a classifier:

• 买衣服 = buy clothes
• 洗衣服 = wash clothes
• 晾衣服 = hang clothes out to dry

So 晾衣服 is completely normal.

Yes. 正在 also marks an action as ongoing, and it often sounds a little more explicit than just 在.

Compare:

• 那个男人在晾衣服。
• 那个男人正在晾衣服。

Both are correct. The second one puts a bit more emphasis on right now / in the middle of doing it.

In everyday speech, 在 alone is already very common and natural.

Usually, 衣服 is pronounced yīfu, with 服 in a neutral tone in everyday speech.

So it sounds like:

• 衣 = first tone
• 服 = light, unstressed

Learners often first see fú in dictionaries because 服 as an independent character has a regular tone, but in the word 衣服, it is commonly neutralized.

So in normal speech, say yīfu, not a strong yīfú.

Yes. In careful pronunciation, it is nàge.

But in natural spoken Mandarin, many speakers pronounce it more like:

• nèige
• or a reduced conversational form depending on accent and speed

As a learner, nàge is a perfectly good standard pronunciation to start with. Just be aware that real spoken Mandarin may sound a little different.

Yes, you can, but the meaning changes slightly.

• 那个男人在晾衣服。 = That man is hanging clothes out to dry.
• 男人在晾衣服。 = A man / men are hanging clothes out to dry, depending on context

Without 那个, the noun becomes less specific. If you are talking about a particular man that both speakers can identify, 那个男人 is more natural.