Step-by-Step Guide on Asking Questions in Chinese
It is important to be curious, inquisitive and to ask questions. Asking questions will help you to start conversations and helps you get to understand others better. This guide will help you facilitate your conversations in Chinese.
Before we kickstart this guide, one important point to note is that you can literally create a question in Chinese by adding ‘ma’ (吗) at the end of your sentences.
1. ‘Who’ – Shéi (谁)
Definition: Shéi (谁) means “who”. This question word can be used to ask who people are.
Example (Asking about People): Tā shì shéi? (她是谁?), which means “Who is she?”.
You can expect a response with a similar sentence structure and similar words:
Example (Response): Tā shì Sarah Wong, which means “She is Sarah Wong”.
2. ‘What’ – Shén me(什么)
Definition: Shén me (什么) means “what”. This question word can be used to ask about objects, actions, or information specifying something. Below are examples of how you can use it:
Example (Asking about Objects): Zhè shì shén me? (这是什么?). This means, “What is this?”. You may use this for asking about objects.
Example (Asking about Actions): Nǐ zài zuò shén me? (你在做什么?). This means, “What are you doing?”. You may use this for asking about actions.
Example (Asking about Information): Tā shuō shénme? (它说什么?). This means, “What does it say?”. You may use this for asking about specific information with regards to something.
3. ‘When’ – Shén me shí hou (什么时候)
Definition: Shén me shí hou (什么时候) means “when”. This question word is used to ask for the timing of an action, event or so on. Below is an example of using this:
Example (Asking about Timings): Shén me shíhòu kāihuì? (什么时候开会?). This means, “When is the meeting?”.
4. ‘Where’ – Nǎ lǐ (哪里)
Definition: Nǎ lǐ (哪里) means “where”. This question word is used to ask regarding a place or position. Below is an example of using this:
Example (Asking about Place or Position): Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ? (你在哪里?). This means, “Where are you?”.
5. ‘Why’ – Wèi shén me (为什么)
Definition: Wèi shén me (为什么) means “why”. This question word is used to ask for a reason or a purpose with regards to something.
Example (Asking for a Reason): Nǐ wèi shén me lèi? (你为什么累?). This means, “Why are you tired?”.
6. ‘Which’ – Nǎ ge (哪个)
Definition: Nǎ ge (哪个) means “which”. This question word is used to ask for information to specify one or more subjects or objects from a definite set of them.
Example (Asking to Specify): Nǐ de bāo shì nǎ ge? (你的包是哪个?). This means, “Which is your bag?”.
7. ‘How’ – Zěn me (怎么)
Definition: Zěn me (怎么) means “how”. This question word is used to ask about the way or manner something is done, or to ask about the condition or quality of something.
Example (Asking about Way or Manner): Nǐ zěn me xiě zhōngwén? (你怎么写中文?). This means, “How do you write in Chinese?”.
Example (Asking about Condition or Quality): Nǐ de kǎoshì zěn me yàng? (你的考试怎么样?). This means, “How was your examination?”.
You Are All Set!
Well done, you are now set and ready! Learning is an endless journey, and it comes with asking more questions about people and the world. Whenever in doubt, use this guide, and ask away!
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