Chinese question words 疑问词
Chinese questions keep the word order of the answer. You put the question word where the answer will go and change nothing else: 你去哪儿？ — 我去北京。 Where are you going? — I'm going to Beijing. Here are the question words and particles, with questions from the readings.
Three ways to ask a question
- Add 吗 to a statement for a yes/no question: 你忙。 → 你忙吗？
- Say the verb twice with 不: 你是不是老师？ 你去不去？ Same meaning as 吗, a little more direct. Do not add 吗 as well.
- Use a question word (below) in the place of the answer. Do not add 吗 to these either: 你叫什么？ not 你叫什么吗？
Watch the lessons
Sound Like a Native: 吧, 呢, 啊, 呀 Explained | Chinese Particles Made Easy
啊 or 呀? Why Chinese 啊 Changes Sound (呀, 哇, 哪) | Learn MandarinQuestion words and particles
| Word | Meaning and how to use it | Questions from the readings |
|---|---|---|
| 什么shénme | what Put it where the answer goes: 你叫什么？ — 我叫小美。 Before a noun it means "what kind of": 什么书？ |
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| 谁shéi | who Also said shuí. Takes the place of the person: 他是谁？ 谁是老师？ |
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| 哪nǎ | which Needs a measure word or noun after it: 哪个？ 哪本书？ 你是哪国人？ |
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| 哪儿nǎr | where Northern speech says 哪儿, southern and Taiwan speech says 哪里 (nǎlǐ). Usually after 在 or 去: 你去哪儿？ |
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| 哪里nǎlǐ | where Same as 哪儿. Also a modest reply to praise: 哪里哪里 "not at all". |
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| 几jǐ | how many (a small number) When you expect an answer under about ten, and always with a measure word: 你家有几口人？ Also for dates and clock time: 几点？ 几月几号？ |
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| 多少duōshao | how many, how much For any number, often without a measure word: 多少钱？ 你们学校有多少学生？ |
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| 怎么zěnme | how; how come Before a verb it asks how to do it: 这个字怎么读？ With a surprised tone it means "how come": 你怎么没来？ |
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| 怎么样zěnmeyàng | how is it; what do you think At the end, asking for an opinion or a suggestion: 这个菜怎么样？ 我们明天去，怎么样？ |
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| 为什么wèishénme | why Goes before the verb or at the start: 你为什么学汉语？ The answer usually starts with 因为. |
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| 什么时候shénme shíhou | when Time goes before the verb in Chinese, so the question word does too: 你什么时候回家？ |
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| 多duō | how (big, long, old…) Before an adjective: 多大？ how old / how big; 多长时间？ how long; 多远？ how far. |
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| 吗ma | (yes/no question) Add it to the end of a statement to make a yes/no question: 你是学生。 → 你是学生吗？ |
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| 呢ne | and…? what about…? After a noun it asks the same question back: 我很好，你呢？ It also softens a question word question. |
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| 吧ba | …right? / let's Checks something you think is true: 你是老师吧？ Or makes a suggestion: 我们走吧。 |
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