这么 / 那么 + Adjective (so …)
"Why is it so cold today?"
- How do you say something is so cold, this expensive, that clever?
- Two little words handle it: so much这么 and like that那么.
so much这么 / like that那么 + Adjective
- Put so much这么 or like that那么 before an adjective to crank up its degree.
- Pattern: so much这么 / like that那么 + Adjective = "so / this / that …".
today今天how come怎么so这么cold冷？
- how / why怎么so much这么cold冷 = "how come it's so cold?"
“Why is it so cold today?” 今天怎么 ____ 冷? (near / now)
这么 means “so” for something near or happening now.
so much这么 near, like that那么 far
you你so那么clever聪明surely，一定can能guess it猜到。
- like that那么intelligent聪明 = "so clever." so much这么 points to here/now; like that那么 to there/then — both translate as "so."
Correct or broken?
这么 / 那么 sit right before the adjective and carry the emphasis themselves.
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.
Watch out
Very common after how / why怎么 for a surprised "how come it's so …?": how / why怎么so much这么expensive贵! Don't confuse so much这么 / like that那么 (so + adjective) with this这个 / that那个 (this / that + noun).
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.
Recap
- so much这么 / like that那么 + Adjective = "so …"
- so much这么 = near / now · like that那么 = far / already mentioned
- Common after how / why怎么: how / why怎么so much这么…
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — like that那么 / so much这么 + Adj..