那么 and 这么

Yeah, 这样 and 那样 are similar to 这么 and 那么 in that the difference between them is an issue of voice. (particularly when what's being talked about isn't directly in front of you.)

The 在那儿 should probably be 'over (at) there', and the annotation got the pop-up wrong. It looks to be the definition of 在 when it's before a verb and creates the continuous (like) tense, or '-ing'. "我在做烦。等一下"

For 怎么 before 这么/那么 + adjective, you can think of it as being the same as 这么/那么 + adjective, only it's a question. So, the same ideas about 这么and 那么 apply.

yes.

怎么这么+adj

怎么那么+adj

The selection depends on the distance between the object and the speaker.

"怎么那么"always being used when you have something or somebody to describe in your mind.(e.g:李小龙怎么那么厉害！)

But if you had watched the live performance(which wont happen nowadays though)of 李小龙，you may say"李小龙怎么这么厉害"！

Actually, we hear 怎么这么 all the time. Do the Chinese ever say 怎么那么 ?

When used with emphasis, to convey the idea of SO many, they seem to mean exactly the same thing. They are interchangeable.

Hi bodawei

Probably the same can be said for Chinese. For example, 没有那么多 (meiyou name duo) is "not that many", on one hand, 没有那么多 (meiyou NAME duo) is "no THAT many". Aside from their connotations and nuance, do you think the same logic work when you decide which to use, this or that (这么 or 那么)？

I don't know whether you got an answer Changye - Go_manly says that he wanted to change his comment and I think I understand why. 'This many' and 'that many' can (I believe) convey the idea of 'so many' in English, just like the Chinese 这么 /那么 - but I cannot think how this would work without emphasis being placed on the THIS many and THAT many. Maybe English is also a tonal language? Without the emphasis 'this many' and 'that many' are just objective statements.

Looks like the usage of "this/that" is more complicated than I expected.....

Well I wanted to delete my comment, because I realised it was wrong. But we can now add 'delete' to the list of things not working.

Mm? I think they do. Or can, anyway.

I see your point. I just thought the same logic might work when you decide which to use, this/这么 or that/那么.

Ok, I see now. Yes, you can. But neither carries the feeling of 'so many'. That is they don't mean 'a surprisingly larger number'.

Hi go_manly

Can you say "this many ～" or "that many ～" in English?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Don't 这么 and 那么 both mean 'so ...' ? 'This' and 'that' don't mean 'so'.

Can you apply the same logic to the usage of "this" and "that" in English?

If the speaker was at their desk waving their hands at a pile of papers, could they say 这么多事要做，烦死.了？

对。

I don't think that it is critical - you can use either and get away with it.

Thanks bodawei and suansuanru. It makes more sense now. I still wonder at the need for 2 words though.

it is just like Jason said:"那么 indicates distance from the speaker, and 这么 indicates closeness to the speaker. "

For example

1."那么多事"is better when you known you will do a lot of things tomorrow which you are bored of .The things to be done are always in your mind.

2.You are in front of your desk while looking at the document that is waiting to be tackled,so you and watch them and say"这么多事要做"。

Go_manly seems confused by the use of 'distance' in your explanation. You have tried to differentiate the location of the object being described, right? 那么 and 这么 both mean 'so' in these cases, but you use one or the other depending on the position or location of the object being described? In the case of the expansion sentence I would think use of 那么 versus 这么 depends on the location of the 'work' relative to the speaker. If the speaker was at their desk waving their hands at a pile of papers, could they say 这么多事要做，烦死.了？

Thanks for that. But can you tell me why 那么多事 is chosen over 这么多事 ?

hi.

Heres my opinion.

I think Jason is right when "这么"and“那么”were regarded as "verb"（+adjective）.

But when you say"那么多事"，"那么"+“多”become a "adj"which can be used to describe"事"。

for example:那么大的房子。

这么好的外语水平。

and

Thanks Jason. I just want to hit you with one of the CPod Expansion sentences:

那么多事要做，烦死了。(Nàme duō shì yào zuò, fánsĭ le.) So much to do, I'm irritated to death.

Why is 那么 used here. I can't see the distance you refer to.