哪
which; where
nǎ
What does 哪 mean?
哪 (nǎ) is the Chinese question word 'which' — it picks one out of a known set. It pairs with a measure word and a noun: 哪个 (nǎ ge, 'which one'), 哪本书 (nǎ běn shū, 'which book'), 哪国人 (nǎ guó rén, 'which country's person → where are you from').
Combined with the suffix 儿 (-r) it becomes 哪儿 (nǎr) 'where,' which in Taiwan and southern China is usually written 哪里 (nǎlǐ). Two notes for English speakers: first, unlike English 'which,' Chinese 哪 always needs a measure word before the noun (you say 哪本书, not just 哪书); second, the tone changes in spoken speech — before a 第四声 it can soften toward něi (哪个 → něige), a colloquial variant you'll hear constantly in Beijing.
Character breakdown
which / where (mouth radical 口 + phonetic 那)
Memory hook: 哪 is 那 ('that') with a 口 (mouth) added — the mouth is asking 'which that?'
Example sentences
你是哪国人？
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
Where are you from? (Which country's person are you?)
neutral
你住在哪儿？
Nǐ zhù zài nǎr?
Where do you live?
spoken
哪个是你的？
Nǎ ge shì nǐ de?
Which one is yours?
spoken
你喜欢哪本书？
Nǐ xǐhuan nǎ běn shū?
Which book do you like?
neutral
Common phrases with 哪
Synonyms
Don't confuse 哪 with
FAQ
Acquire by listening
Hear 哪 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.
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