这么 / 那么 + Adjective (so …)
IntroducedA coat's price surprises a buyer
- You look at a coat's price and find it much higher than expected.
- 这件clothes衣服how come怎么so这么expensive贵？ — The buyer reacts to the surprisingly high price.
You look at a coat's price and find it much higher than expected. What does 这件衣服怎么这么贵？ communicate?
The buyer reacts to the surprisingly high price. 这么 often points to a degree currently in focus. 那么 can refer to a degree already mentioned; the distinction is not a literal distance measurement for every use.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is so这么 / so那么 + Adjective (so …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
today今天how come怎么so这么cold冷？
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: “Why is it so cold today?” 今天怎么 ____ 冷? (near / now)
这么 means “so” for something near or happening now.
Read examples in context
you你so那么clever聪明surely，一定can能guess it猜到。
- In the opening example, 这件clothes衣服how come怎么so这么expensive贵？: The buyer reacts to the surprisingly high price.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which one points to something near / now?
这么 = near / now; 那么 = far / already mentioned.
Arrange: “You're so clever.”
Subject + 那么 + Adjective: 你 + 那么 + 聪明.
Know the boundary
- so这么 often points to a degree currently in focus.
- so那么 can refer to a degree already mentioned; the distinction is not a literal distance measurement for every use.
这么 / 那么 go before a noun, like 这个 / 那个.
这么 / 那么 go before an adjective (这么冷). 这个 / 那个 go before a noun.
那么 always means that the described object is physically far away.
这么 often points to a degree currently in focus. 那么 can refer to a degree already mentioned; the distinction is not a literal distance measurement for every use. The buyer reacts to the surprisingly high price.
Use the distinction
- The buyer reacts to the surprisingly high price.
- so这么 often points to a degree currently in focus. so那么 can refer to a degree already mentioned; the distinction is not a literal distance measurement for every use.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — so那么 / so这么 + Adj..
You look at a coat's price and find it much higher than expected. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.