哪 (nǎ) — which
HSK 1 | pronoun/determiner | interrogative asking for selection among options
哪 (nǎ)
An interrogative determiner and pronoun used to ask "which" when choosing among two or more options; it pairs with a measure word before a noun, exactly like 这 and 那.
Meanings
- [determiner] Which (before a measure word and noun: 哪 + measure word + noun).
- [pronoun] Which one (used alone).
Example Sentences
你喜欢哪个颜色？ Nǐ xǐhuan nǎge yánsè? Which color do you like?
你是哪国人？ Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Which country are you from?
这两本书，你要哪本？ Zhè liǎng běn shū, nǐ yào nǎ běn? Which of these two books do you want?
他住在哪个城市？ Tā zhù zài nǎge chéngshì? Which city does he live in?
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 哪个 (nǎge) | which one |
| 哪些 (nǎxiē) | which ones (plural) |
| 哪里 (nǎlǐ) | where |
| 哪儿 (nǎr) | where (colloquial) |
| 哪国 (nǎ guó) | which country |
| 哪天 (nǎ tiān) | which day |
Memory Hook
哪 shares the same mouth radical 口 as many question words. Think of it as opening your mouth (口) and asking "which one?" while scanning a lineup of options.