Usage note
哪儿是问地方的词，意思接近哪里。问路或找东西时常用。
nǎ ér shì wèn dì fāng de cí， yì sī jiē jìn nǎ lǐ。 wèn lù huò zhǎo dōng xī shí cháng yòng。
哪儿 is a word for asking about a place, close to 哪里. It is often used when asking for directions or looking for something.
Context note
哪儿常出现在提问里，比如问教室、家、商店在哪里。
nǎ ér cháng chū xiàn zài tí wèn lǐ， bǐ rú wèn jiào shì 、 jiā 、 shāng diàn zài nǎ lǐ。
哪儿 often appears in questions, such as asking where a classroom, home, or shop is.
5 examples
你的书在哪儿？
nǐ de shū zài nǎ ér？
Where is your book?
你想去哪儿？
nǐ xiǎng qù nǎ ér？
Where do you want to go?
洗手间在哪儿？
xǐ shǒu jiān zài nǎ ér？
Where is the restroom?
我的铅笔在哪儿？
wǒ de qiān bǐ zài nǎ ér？
Where is my pencil?
小猫躲在哪儿？
xiǎo māo duǒ zài nǎ ér？
Where is the kitten hiding?
5 mini stories
你想去哪儿玩？我想去公园。
nǐ xiǎng qù nǎ ér wán？ wǒ xiǎng qù gōng yuán。
Where do you want to go and play? I want to go to the park.
妈妈问我的书在哪儿。我说在桌子上。
mā ma wèn wǒ de shū zài nǎ ér。 wǒ shuō zài zhuō zi shàng。
Mom asked where my book was. I said it was on the table.
老师问大家哪儿舒服。我们说教室很安静。
lǎo shī wèn dà jiā nǎ ér shū fú。 wǒ men shuō jiào shì hěn ān jìng。
The teacher asked where felt comfortable. We said the classroom was very quiet.
你的小狗跑哪儿去了？它在门口等你。
nǐ de xiǎo gǒu pǎo nǎ ér qù le？ tā zài mén kǒu děng nǐ。
Where did your puppy run off to? It is waiting for you at the door.
我想知道球在哪儿。弟弟说在沙发下面。
wǒ xiǎng zhī dào qiú zài nǎ ér。 dì di shuō zài shā fā xià miàn。
I want to know where the ball is. My younger brother said it is under the sofa.
Mini dialogue
找书包
A
我的书包在哪儿？
Wǒ de shūbāo zài nǎr?
Where is my schoolbag?
B
在椅子上。
Zài yǐzi shàng.
It's on the chair.
去公园
A
我们去哪儿玩？
Wǒmen qù nǎr wán?
Where shall we go to play?
B
去公园吧。
Qù gōngyuán ba.
Let's go to the park.
Related words and contrasts
similar
哪里
nǎlǐ
where
哪儿 and 哪里 both mean 'where'. 哪儿 is more common in spoken Chinese.
contrast
那儿
nàr
there
哪儿 asks 'where?', 那儿 answers 'there'.