The 'N' word all over China

I've been meaning to write about this for some time, but with so many things to talk about it slips my mind. Anyway, when I first arrived in China one of our host's told me that I would hear something that sounds like the 'N' word, but not to get upset because they are not talking about me. Everywhere I go when I listen to people talking they are always saying "nei ge" which means 'that.' Chinese people are always using this word, so for a black person that might not know the meaning they may take it the wrong way and think that the Chinese are talking about them and be ready to knock a Chinese person out. I find it hilarious everytime I hear it. What would be even funnier is if that's what they were really saying and our host told us something different so that we wouldn't knock a Chinese person out and be expelled from China.