Difference between revisions of "Placement of question words"
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How does one ask questions in Chinese? This article will tell you how questions are formed and where the questions words are supposed to go. After all, one of the best ways to learn is to ask questions! | How does one ask questions in Chinese? This article will tell you how questions are formed and where the questions words are supposed to go. After all, one of the best ways to learn is to ask questions! | ||
| − | == | + | == Common question words list == |
Question words are one way to form questions in Chinese. In English, question words are also known as ''wh-words'', as the majority of them begin with ''wh'': | Question words are one way to form questions in Chinese. In English, question words are also known as ''wh-words'', as the majority of them begin with ''wh'': | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | * 谁 (shéi) <span class="trans">who</span> | |
| − | + | * 哪里 (nǎli) <span class="trans">where</span> | |
| − | + | * 哪儿(nǎr)<span class="trans">where</span> | |
| − | + | * 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) <span class="trans">when</span> | |
| − | + | * 为什么 (wèishénme) <span class="trans">why</span> | |
| − | + | * 怎么 (zěnme) <span class="trans">how</span> | |
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</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Rules === | ||
In English, question words have to be placed at the beginning of the sentence. This involves changing the [[word order]] to allow this rearrangement. In Chinese, using question words is a lot simpler. You simply place a question word in the place of the thing you want to ask about. Nothing needs to be rearranged. | In English, question words have to be placed at the beginning of the sentence. This involves changing the [[word order]] to allow this rearrangement. In Chinese, using question words is a lot simpler. You simply place a question word in the place of the thing you want to ask about. Nothing needs to be rearranged. | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 是 | + | * 我 是 <em>小李</em>。<span class="trans">I am Xiao Li.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 是 | + | * 你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="trans">Who are you? (you are who?)</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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This works for whatever it is you want to ask about. The question form has the same word order as the statement form. | This works for whatever it is you want to ask about. The question form has the same word order as the statement form. | ||
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
An example for asking and telling ''what'': | An example for asking and telling ''what'': | ||
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* 这 是 <em>什么</em>？<span class="trans">What is this?</span> | * 这 是 <em>什么</em>？<span class="trans">What is this?</span> | ||
| − | * 这 是 <em>书</em>。<span class="trans">This is a | + | * 这 是 <em>书</em>。<span class="trans">This is a book.</span> |
| + | * 那 是 <em>什么</em>？<span class="trans">What is that?</span> | ||
| + | * 那 是 <em>桌子</em>。<span class="trans">That is a desk.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 在 <em> | + | * 你 在 <em>哪里</em>？<span class="trans">Where are you?</span> |
* 我 在 <em>北京</em>。<span class="trans">I'm in Beijing.</span> | * 我 在 <em>北京</em>。<span class="trans">I'm in Beijing.</span> | ||
| + | * 我们 在 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="trans">Where are we?</span> | ||
| + | * 我们 在 <em>南京西路</em>。<span class="trans"></span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 <em>什么时候</em> 来的？<span class="trans">When are you coming?</span> | + | * 你 <em>什么时候</em> 来的？<span class="expl">“的”在这里表示对过去细节的追问。来自“是...的”结构。</span><span class="trans">When are you coming?</span> |
* 我 <em>昨天</em> 来的。<span class="trans">I'm coming tomorrow.</span> | * 我 <em>昨天</em> 来的。<span class="trans">I'm coming tomorrow.</span> | ||
| + | * 你<em>什么时候</em> 去？<span class="trans">When are you going?</span> | ||
| + | * 我 <em>明天</em> 去。<span class="trans">I'm coming tomorrow.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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* 你 <em>为什么</em> 学 中文？<span class="trans">Why do you study Chinese?</span> | * 你 <em>为什么</em> 学 中文？<span class="trans">Why do you study Chinese?</span> | ||
* <em>因为</em> 我 在 中国。<span class="trans"> Because I'm in China.</span> | * <em>因为</em> 我 在 中国。<span class="trans"> Because I'm in China.</span> | ||
| + | * 你 <em>为什么</em> 不 高兴？<span class="trans"></span> | ||
| + | * <em>因为</em> 我 在 学 中文。<span class="trans"> </span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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* 你 <em>怎么</em> 学习 中文？<span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span> | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 学习 中文？<span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span> | ||
| − | * 我 | + | * 我 <em> 用 Grammar Wiki</em> 。<span class="trans"></span> |
| + | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 上网？<span class="trans"></span> | ||
| + | * 我 <em>用 手机</em> 上网。<span class="trans"></span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 23) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] | * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 23) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] | ||
Revision as of 09:19, 9 September 2013
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Keywords
How does one ask questions in Chinese? This article will tell you how questions are formed and where the questions words are supposed to go. After all, one of the best ways to learn is to ask questions!
Contents
Common question words list
Question words are one way to form questions in Chinese. In English, question words are also known as wh-words, as the majority of them begin with wh:
- 谁 (shéi) who
- 哪里 (nǎli) where
- 哪儿(nǎr)where
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) when
- 为什么 (wèishénme) why
- 怎么 (zěnme) how
Rules
In English, question words have to be placed at the beginning of the sentence. This involves changing the word order to allow this rearrangement. In Chinese, using question words is a lot simpler. You simply place a question word in the place of the thing you want to ask about. Nothing needs to be rearranged.
So if the statement is
- 我 是 小李。I am Xiao Li.
the question form - "who are you?" - has the same word order:
- 你 是 谁？Who are you? (you are who?)
This works for whatever it is you want to ask about. The question form has the same word order as the statement form.
Examples
An example for asking and telling what:
- 这 是 什么？What is this?
- 这 是 书。This is a book.
- 那 是 什么？What is that?
- 那 是 桌子。That is a desk.
An example for asking and telling where:
- 你 在 哪里？Where are you?
- 我 在 北京。I'm in Beijing.
- 我们 在 哪儿？Where are we?
- 我们 在 南京西路。
An example for asking and telling when:
- 你 什么时候 来的？“的”在这里表示对过去细节的追问。来自“是...的”结构。When are you coming?
- 我 昨天 来的。I'm coming tomorrow.
- 你什么时候 去？When are you going?
- 我 明天 去。I'm coming tomorrow.
An example for asking and telling why:
- 你 为什么 学 中文？Why do you study Chinese?
- 因为 我 在 中国。 Because I'm in China.
- 你 为什么 不 高兴？
- 因为 我 在 学 中文。
An example for asking and telling how:
- 你 怎么 学习 中文？How do you study Chinese?
- 我 用 Grammar Wiki 。
- 你 怎么 上网？
- 我 用 手机 上网。
See also
Sources and further reading
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 23) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 132-5) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 57) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 66, 251) →buy
