Say it in Chinese
How to say this one in Chinese
Updated
This one in Chinese is 这个. Point at what you want and say it. You do not need to know the name of the food. The seller names it back to you and asks how many.
The phrase
What it means
这个 means “this one”. 这 is “this”. 个 is a small word that Chinese puts between “this” (or a number) and a thing.
It is one of the most common words in spoken Chinese. People also say it while they think, like “um” in English.
How to say it
Say zhè ge. zhè falls. ge is short and soft.
zh sounds close to the “j” in “jam”, with the tongue curled back a little.
In fast speech you may hear zhèi ge. Both are normal.
The pinyin shows how people really say it, the same as in the game.
When to use it
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Breakfast stalls and food counters
Buns, dumplings, pancakes and eggs sit in steamers and on trays, often with no labels. Point and say 这个.
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Menus with pictures
Many small restaurants have photo menus on the wall or behind a QR code. Point at the photo and say 这个.
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In shops
Hold up the thing and ask the price: 这个多少钱 (how much is this)?
Other ways to say it
Related words from the game.
- 我要这个。 (wǒ yào zhè ge.) I want this one.
A full sentence. It makes clear that you are ordering.
- 那个。 (nà ge.) That one.
For something further away, or closer to the other person.
- 我要那个 (wǒ yào nà ge) I want that one
For something behind the counter or on a high shelf.
- 这是什么？ (zhè shì shén me?) What is this?
Ask at a stall when you want to know before you choose.
What people say back
- 这个 (zhè ge) This one
You say it at a breakfast stall, but you are not pointing at anything.
They may say 你要哪一个？指给我看看。 (nǐ yào nǎ yí ge? zhǐ gěi wǒ kàn kan.) Which one do you want? Point it out for me. (Point at it and say 这个 again.) - 这个 (zhè ge) This one
You point at the steamed buns.
They may say 包子？想要几个？ (bāo zi? xiǎng yào jǐ ge?) Steamed bun? How many? (The seller names the food, then asks how many. Answer with a number.) - 这个 (zhè ge) This one
At the hotel desk you take the wrong thing out of your bag.
They may say 不是这个，护照。 (bú shì zhè ge, hù zhào.) Not this one. Passport.
Common mistakes
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Not pointing
The word only works with a gesture. Without one, the seller has to ask which one you mean.
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No answer to “how many?”
After 这个 the next question is almost always 几个 (how many)? Have a number ready, or hold up fingers.
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Mixing up this and that
这个 is near you. 那个 is further away. If you point, people understand either way.
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Hearing “one” instead of “this one”
一个 (one) and 这个 (this one) sound alike to new learners. Both end in ge. Listen to the first syllable: yí or zhè.
Where it comes up in the game
The breakfast stall
On your first morning you cannot name anything on the counter, and you do not need to. You say you want breakfast. The owner asks which one. You point and say 这个. The owner names it and asks how many.
The convenience store
You put 我要 (I want) and 这个 together to order lunch: 我要这个. You use 这个 again later in the week, at a bun shop in the train station and on a boat ride.
The hotel desk
Things come out of your pocket when you say their names. If you take out the wrong one, the receptionist says 不是这个，护照 (not this, your passport).
Questions
How do you say this one in Chinese?
This one in Chinese is 这个. Point at what you want while you say it. It is the easiest way to order food when you do not know its name.
How do you say that one in Chinese?
That one in Chinese is 那个. Use it for something further away. 这个 is for something close.
Can I order food in China just by pointing?
You can order by pointing at breakfast stalls, bakeries and food counters. Point and say 这个 (this one). The seller usually names the food and asks how many, so have a number ready.
What does 个 mean in 这个?
个 is a small word that Chinese puts between “this”, “that” or a number and a thing. It is the most common one. It is also in 几个 (how many) and 一个 (one).
Do people say zhe ge or zhei ge?
People say both. 这个 is written zhè ge, and many people say zhèi ge in fast speech. Either one is understood.
How do I say I want this one in Chinese?
I want this one in Chinese is 我要这个. 我 means “I”, 要 means “want” and 这个 means “this one”.