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哪里

nǎ lǐ
HSK 2.0 Level 1 HSK 3.0 Level 1 Pronoun Very common

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Definitions

  1. 1. where?
  2. 2. somewhere
  3. 3. anywhere
  4. 4. wherever
  5. 5. nowhere (negative answer to question)
  6. 6. humble expression denying compliment
  7. 7. also written 哪裡|哪里

Word relationships

Register variants

1 item
哪儿
nǎr

where?

Used in northern China; interchangeable in casual speech

Related words

1 item
哪里哪里
nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ

you're too kind; you flatter me

用于回应赞美，表示自谦，意思是“哪里哪里”，是“哪里”的叠加使用。

Synonyms

2 items
哪儿
nǎr

where?

口语中常用，与“哪里”意思相同，都表示询问地点。
何处
hé chù

whence

书面语，用于正式或文学语境，同样表示“哪里”。

Usage notes

Common mistakes

As a question word, 哪里 is often placed after the subject in a sentence, e.g., 你从哪里来？ (Where are you from?). It is not usually placed at the beginning unless emphasizing the location.

Cultural notes

Saying 哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ) is a traditional humble way to deflect compliments, literally meaning 'where where,' similar to saying 'You're too kind.' It's used less among younger speakers today but still understood.

Grammar

Guides that feature 哪里

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1 guide
HSK 2.0 Level 1+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 6 min
Question Words

Ask who, what, where, how, and how much without adding extra question machinery.

Reading: nǎ lǐ Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
你来自 哪里 ？
Where are you from?
请问在 哪里 托运行李？
Excuse me, where do I check in my luggage?
请问，卫生间在 哪里 ？
Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
请问最近的加油站在 哪里 ？
Excuse me, where is the nearest gas station?
这个茶叶的产地是 哪里 ？
Where is the origin of this tea?

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 哪里

也好不到哪里去
yě hǎo bù dào nǎ lǐ qù

just as bad; not much better

哪里哪里
nǎ lǐ nǎ lǐ

you're too kind; you flatter me

Child Words of 哪里

哪
nǎ

how

哪
něi

which? (interrogative, followed by classifier or numeral-classifier)

里
lǐ

lining

哪
né

Taiwan pr. [nuó]