哪儿 · 这儿 · 那儿
where? · here · there
Structure
主语 + 在 + 哪儿 ？ · 在 + 这儿／那儿 · 哪里／这里／那里
What it means
哪儿 means “where?”, 这儿 “here” and 那儿 “there”.
How it is built
Subject + 在 + 哪儿？: 你在哪儿？——我在这儿。 (Where are you? — I'm here.) 王明不在这儿，他在那儿。 (Wang Ming isn't here; he's over there.)
When to use it
哪儿 sits exactly where the answer goes. 哪里, 这里, 那里 mean the same: the 儿 forms are the everyday northern way, the 里 forms are more common in the south and in writing.
Watch out
哪儿 already makes the question, so no 吗: ✗ 你在哪儿吗？ Listen to the tone: 哪儿 nǎr (3rd) is “where?”, 那儿 nàr (4th) is “there”.
Examples
你在哪儿？——我在这儿。
Where are you? — I’m here.
我的书在哪里？——在那里，床上。
Where’s my book? — Over there, on the bed.
王明不在这儿，他在那儿。
Wang Ming isn’t here; he’s over there.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 6: 我的手机在哪儿 (Where is it?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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