哪里 (nǎlǐ)

The standard written form and southern-preferred spoken form of "where," fully interchangeable with 哪儿 (nǎr) in meaning; 哪里 is more common in formal writing, the south, and Taiwan Mandarin.

Meanings

[pronoun] Where (asking about location or destination).
[pronoun] Wherever (open or conditional sense).
[phrase] "Not at all / you're too kind" (set phrase in response to a compliment).

Example Sentences

你想去哪里？ Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎlǐ? Where do you want to go?

图书馆在哪里？ Túshūguǎn zài nǎlǐ? Where is the library?

你是从哪里来的？ Nǐ shì cóng nǎlǐ lái de? Where are you from?

A：你的汉语说得真好！B：哪里哪里。 A: Nǐ de Hànyǔ shuō de zhēn hǎo! B: Nǎlǐ nǎlǐ. A: Your Chinese is really good! B: Not at all.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
去哪里 (qù nǎlǐ)	going where
在哪里 (zài nǎlǐ)	located where
从哪里 (cóng nǎlǐ)	from where
哪里都 (nǎlǐ dōu)	everywhere, anywhere
哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ)	not at all (humble reply)
到哪里 (dào nǎlǐ)	to where

Memory Hook

哪里 is literally "which place" (哪 = which, 里 = inside/place). Picture looking around a map and pointing: "which place is it?"