Noun + 这个 + Category (sizing up) · 名词 + 这个 + 类别
English
A person frame can introduce praise as well as criticism
- In an original team discussion, 他这个人很热情。 presents a comment about him as a person: he is warm and welcoming. 这个人 helps frame the person being discussed; it does not make the comment negative.
- Compare 他这个人有点儿粗心。 — He is a little careless. The evaluation changes with the predicate. The same frame can introduce praise or a reservation; it has not decided the verdict before hearing the evidence.
中文
A person frame can introduce praise as well as criticism
- In an original team discussion, he / him他this / the topic frame, in context这个person人very很warm / welcoming热情。 presents a comment about him as a person: he is warm and welcoming. this / the topic frame, in context这个person人 helps frame the person being discussed; it does not make the comment negative.
- Compare he / him他this / the topic frame, in context这个person人slightly有点儿careless粗心。 — He is a little careless. The evaluation changes with the predicate. The same frame can introduce praise or a reservation; it has not decided the verdict before hearing the evidence.
Practice · 练习
You are describing someone's usual warm manner. What does 他这个人很热情。 communicate?
这个人 frames him as the person being evaluated. The evaluation can be positive or negative. 这个 as a hesitation filler is a different conversational use.
English
Read the topic and its category together
- 他 + 这个人 + comment frames “him as a person” for the following statement. In 北京这个城市很大, the city category frames a comment about Beijing.
- Choose a category that fits what you are discussing. This is not an instruction to insert 这个 before every noun. Pronouns and names can take such a frame, so “noun” in a lesson label is a useful shorthand rather than a complete grammar rule.
he他this这个person人very很warm热情。
中文
Read the topic and its category together
- he / him他 + this / the topic frame, in context这个person人 + comment frames “him as a person” for the following statement. In Beijing, capital of the…北京this / the topic frame, in context这个city城市很大, the city category frames a comment about Beijing.
- Choose a category that fits what you are discussing. This is not an instruction to insert this / the topic frame, in context这个 before every noun. Pronouns and names can take such a frame, so “noun” in a lesson label is a useful shorthand rather than a complete grammar rule.
he他this这个person人very很warm热情。
Practice · 练习
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He's a warm-hearted person: 他 ____ 人很热情。
Noun + 这个 + Category sizes someone up: 他这个人很热情. · 名词 + 这个 + 类别 评价某人:他这个人很热情。
English
The following words supply the actual comment
- 他这个人很热情 describes his manner, while 他这个人有点儿粗心 describes carelessness. Neither sentence by itself tells you his age, job or the number of people who agree.
- In this discussion the longer person frame can emphasise the person as the topic. 他很热情 is also grammatical. Tone depends on the predicate, delivery and context; the frame alone does not guarantee a hostile or intimate attitude.
he他this这个person人a little有点儿careless粗心。
中文
The following words supply the actual comment
- he / him他this / the topic frame, in context这个person人very很warm / welcoming热情 describes his manner, while he / him他this / the topic frame, in context这个person人slightly有点儿careless粗心 describes carelessness. Neither sentence by itself tells you his age, job or the number of people who agree.
- In this discussion the longer person frame can emphasise the person as the topic. he / him他very很warm / welcoming热情 is also grammatical. Tone depends on the predicate, delivery and context; the frame alone does not guarantee a hostile or intimate attitude.
he他this这个person人a little有点儿careless粗心。
Practice · 练习
In the team’s assessment 他这个人很热情, what does 这个人 help do?
The frame identifies what is being discussed; 很热情 supplies the warm evaluation. Context and delivery also affect tone.
Practice · 练习
Match the phrases to the comment actually supplied.
The category frame does not decide whether the predicate is praise or a reservation.
English
Distinguish a frame from an ordinary demonstrative
- 这个人是我的老师。 can simply identify this person as my teacher. There is no earlier 他 topic followed by a personal assessment in that sentence.
- 他这个人很热情。 frames him for a comment. Both contain 这个人, but the wider sentence tells you what it is doing; the string alone is not a reliable tone detector.
中文
Distinguish a frame from an ordinary demonstrative
- this / the topic frame, in context这个person人to be / is是I / me我(of / 's)的teacher老师。 can simply identify this person as my teacher. There is no earlier he / him他 topic followed by a personal assessment in that sentence.
- he / him他this / the topic frame, in context这个person人very很warm / welcoming热情。 frames him for a comment. Both contain this / the topic frame, in context这个person人, but the wider sentence tells you what it is doing; the string alone is not a reliable tone detector.
Practice · 练习
这个 can also work as a spoken filler (“um, this…”). · 这个 也能作口语填充词(“嗯,这个……”)。
Yes — 这个… is a common hesitation filler in speech. · 对 —— 这个…… 是常见的口头停顿词。
Practice · 练习
Because 他这个人 appears, the following comment must be negative.
很热情 is positive in this example; 有点儿粗心 gives a reservation. The following comment and context determine the evaluation.
Practice · 练习
What does 这个人是我的老师 directly identify?
The sentence identifies a teacher; the demonstrative is not automatically a personal criticism.
English
A hesitation use needs the spoken exchange
- 这个……我还没决定。 can use 这个 as a hesitation before “I have not decided yet”. It is not the person-frame pattern and supplies no named category such as 人 or 城市 here.
- A pause alone does not make every 这个 a filler: someone could pause while pointing to a real object. Check the exchange and referent. Written examples illustrate possible uses; actual delivery may clarify the meaning.
中文
A hesitation use needs the spoken exchange
- this / the topic frame, in context这个……I / me我still / also还not / haven't没to decide (to do something)决定。 can use this / the topic frame, in context这个 as a hesitation before “I have not decided yet”. It is not the person-frame pattern and supplies no named category such as person人 or city城市 here.
- A pause alone does not make every this / the topic frame, in context这个 a filler: someone could pause while pointing to a real object. Check the exchange and referent. Written examples illustrate possible uses; actual delivery may clarify the meaning.
English
Transfer the frame without assuming a verdict
- 北京这个城市交通很方便。 frames Beijing for a comment about transport convenience. It does not claim that every aspect of life there is convenient; the following words identify what is assessed.
- Our team and city examples are original practice. See the unit reference; identify the topic, category and comment before choosing an interpretation.
Key idea
- Read what is framed and what is said about it; 这个 alone does not establish criticism or hesitation.
中文
Transfer the frame without assuming a verdict
- Beijing, capital of the…北京this / the topic frame, in context这个城市交通very很convenient方便。 frames Beijing for a comment about transport convenience. It does not claim that every aspect of life there is convenient; the following words identify what is assessed.
- Our team and city examples are original practice. See the unit reference; identify the topic, category and comment before choosing an interpretation.
Key idea
- Read what is framed and what is said about it; this / the topic frame, in context这个 alone does not establish criticism or hesitation.
Practice · 练习
北京这个城市交通很方便 comments on which aspect?
交通 identifies transport. The statement does not supply a universal assessment of every aspect or a population count.