那天

那 (nà) means 'that' and 天 (tiān) means 'day'. Together, 那天 (nà tiān) translates to 'that day', referring to a specific past day that is known or previously mentioned.

The character 那 (nà) comes from the ancient Chinese character for 'that', used to point to something distant in time or space. 天 (tiān) originally meant 'sky' but evolved to mean 'day' in modern usage. The combination emphasizes a specific, non-present day.

那 was commonly used in storytelling or recounting events, helping to situate the narrative in a particular time. It is often used in conversations to refer back to a previous event, such as '那天下雨了' (That day it rained). Understanding 那天 helps learners grasp how time is referenced in Chinese narratives.