Introduction
哪个 (nǎge) means "which one". It is 哪 (nǎ) plus the measure word 个 (ge) — and that is the real lesson here: 哪 never appears on its own. Swap 个 for whatever measure word the noun takes, and you can ask "which" about anything.
Overview
Structure: Subj. + Verb + 哪 (nǎ) + Measure Word + (Noun) ?
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 哪个 + N | 你要哪个苹果？(Nǐ yào nǎge píngguǒ?) | Which apple do you want? |
| 哪个 alone | 你喜欢哪个？(Nǐ xǐhuan nǎge?) | Which one do you like? |
| 哪 + MW + N | 你看哪本书？(Nǐ kàn nǎ běn shū?) | Which book are you reading? |
| 哪个 as subject | 哪个是你的？(Nǎge shì nǐ de?) | Which one is yours? |
| 哪天 / 哪年 | 你哪天去？(Nǐ nǎ tiān qù?) | Which day are you going? |
哪个 (nǎge) chooses from a set; 什么 (shénme) leaves the answer open:
- 你喜欢哪个？(Nǐ xǐhuan nǎge?) — Which one do you like? The options are already in front of you.
- 你喜欢什么？(Nǐ xǐhuan shénme?) — What do you like? Anything at all.
- 哪 (nǎ) always needs a measure word: ✓ 哪本书 (nǎ běn shū) ❌ 哪书 (nǎ shū).
- Tone: 哪 (nǎ) is 3rd tone and asks; 那 (nà) is 4th tone and points. 哪个 (nǎge) — which one; 那个 (nàge) — that one.
Examples
你要哪个？
Nǐ yào nǎge?
Which one do you want?
你看哪本书？
Nǐ kàn nǎ běn shū?
Which book are you reading?
哪个是你的？
Nǎge shì nǐ de?
Which one is yours?
你喜欢哪个老师？
Nǐ xǐhuan nǎge lǎoshī?
Which teacher do you like?
你去哪个学校？
Nǐ qù nǎge xuéxiào?
Which school do you go to?
你哪天有时间？
Nǐ nǎ tiān yǒu shíjiān?
Which day are you free?
Usage Notes
- 哪 (nǎ) plus a measure word is one unit and drops straight into the answer's slot: 我看这本书。(Wǒ kàn zhè běn shū.) → 你看哪本书？(Nǐ kàn nǎ běn shū?)
- 哪个 (nǎge) is already a question, so no 吗 (ma). ❌ 你要哪个吗？(Nǐ yào nǎge ma?)
- In everyday speech 哪个 is often said něige, and 那个 nèige. Both spellings are read the same way in the textbook, so learn the characters, not just the sound.
- 天 (tiān) and 年 (nián) are measure words already, so 哪天 (nǎ tiān) and 哪年 (nǎ nián) take no extra 个.
- For people, 哪个 (nǎge) picks from a known group while 谁 (shéi) is fully open: 哪个是你老师？(Nǎge shì nǐ lǎoshī?) versus 谁是你老师？(Shéi shì nǐ lǎoshī?)