Diffuse Reference Pattern A这A那 in Chinese
A这A那
A这A那 repeats the same verb around 这 and 那 to portray talk, complaints, choices, or attention moving across miscellaneous matters. Forms such as 说这说那 and 嫌这嫌那 are lexicalized parallel patterns. Both A slots must match, and no aspect marker may interrupt the four-part sequence.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
A + 这 + A + 那
Read the structure
A这A那 repeats the same verb around 这 and 那 to portray talk, complaints, choices, or attention moving across miscellaneous matters. Forms such as 说这说那 and 嫌这嫌那 are lexicalized parallel patterns. Both A slots must match, and no aspect marker may interrupt the four-part sequence. Keep the model A + 这 + A + 那 visible while you compare each sentence.
他总爱说这说那。
He is always talking about this and that.
Choose the right context
Use 说这说那 for talk ranging over many matters. Use 嫌这嫌那 for repeated complaints about different things. Use the pattern when diffuse reference itself is relevant.
别再嫌这嫌那了。
Stop finding fault with everything.
Respect the boundary
Do not put different verbs in the two A slots. Do not omit 那 from the fixed sequence. Do not insert aspect marking inside the pattern.
他总爱说这那说。
(He is always talking about this and that.)
Repair the pattern
Second demonstrative precedes rather than follows its A slot: A must repeat on both sides, and each demonstrative follows its A slot: A这A那, here 说这说那. Aspect marker splits the fixed pattern: A这A那 remains intact; sentence-final 了 cannot appear between its halves.
他总爱说这说那。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他总爱说这说那。
He is always talking about this and that.
他
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
总
这
This part occupies the 这 position in the model pattern.
爱说
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
这
那
This part occupies the 那 position in the model pattern.
说
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
那
这
This part occupies the 这 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他总爱说这说那。
He is always talking about this and that.
别再嫌这嫌那了。
Stop finding fault with everything.
孩子一会儿摸这摸那。
The child keeps touching this and that.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 说这说那 for talk ranging over many matters.
- Use 嫌这嫌那 for repeated complaints about different things.
- Use the pattern when diffuse reference itself is relevant.
Do not use it when
- Do not put different verbs in the two A slots.
- Do not omit 那 from the fixed sequence.
- Do not insert aspect marking inside the pattern.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他总爱说这那说。
他总爱说这说那。
Second demonstrative precedes rather than follows its A slot
A must repeat on both sides, and each demonstrative follows its A slot: A这A那, here 说这说那.
别再嫌这了嫌那。
别再嫌这嫌那了。
Aspect marker splits the fixed pattern
A这A那 remains intact; sentence-final 了 cannot appear between its halves.
他总爱说这那说。
A must repeat on both sides, and each demonstrative follows its A slot: A这A那, here 说这说那.
别再嫌这了嫌那。
A这A那 remains intact; sentence-final 了 cannot appear between its halves.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with A这A那.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with A这A那. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Diffuse Reference Pattern A这A那 Questions
Must A be one syllable?
The common productive examples use a repeated verb; the same A must occupy both slots.
Is the pattern neutral?
It often conveys diffuseness, impatience, or mild criticism, depending on the verb and context.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六27】 (PDF p. 237)
Provides official Level 6 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 7, Demonstratives; Chapter 15, Adverbs
Supports 这/那 as demonstratives and the pre-predicate position of adverbial material only; GF item 【六27】 supplies the exact A这A那 formula.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
A来A去Repeated Back-and-Forth Pattern A来A去
Distinguish between A这A那 tossing between different object directions and A来A去 reciprocating around the action, and check the role of the indicator words in the slot.
Easy to confuse
左A右BAlternating Direction Pattern 左A右B
Compare A这A那 using demonstrative slots with 左A右B using directional slots for repeated activity.
Continue learning
再Conditional or Subsequent 再
Contrast the fixed repeated frame A这A那 with ordinary adverb 再 marking a later repetition.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Distinguish between A这A那 tossing between different object directions and A来A去 reciprocating around the action, and check the role of the indicator words in the slot.