Difference between revisions of "Questions with "ne""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | The particle 呢(ne) can be used to ask reciprocal questions, also known as "bounce back" questions. 呢 can also be used to ask questions such as "what about" or "how about" | + | |
| + | The particle 呢 (ne) can be used to ask reciprocal questions, also known as "bounce back" questions. 呢 can also be used to ask questions such as "what about" or "how about." | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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And it's as simple as that. Say what you want to ask about, then stick 呢 on the end. A very common way to use this is to return a question after being asked it. The classic example is this exchange: | And it's as simple as that. Say what you want to ask about, then stick 呢 on the end. A very common way to use this is to return a question after being asked it. The classic example is this exchange: | ||
| − | + | <div class="liju"> | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | '''A:''' 你 好 吗 ？<br /> | |
| + | '''B:''' 我 很 好。你<em>呢</em> ？<br /> | ||
| + | '''A:''' 我 也 很 好。 | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 这个东西 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">What about this thing?</span> | + | * 这个东西 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">What about this thing?</span> |
| − | * 你 妈妈 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">What about your mom?</span> | + | * 你 妈妈 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">What about your mom?</span> |
| − | * 我们 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">What about us?</span> | + | * 我们 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">What about us?</span> |
| − | * 篮球 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">What about basketball?</span> | + | * 篮球 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">What about basketball?</span> |
| − | * 这里 很 多 人。那里 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 这里 很 多 人。那里 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">There are a lot of people here. How about over there?</span> |
| − | * 北京 下 雨 了。上海 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 北京 下 雨 了。上海 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">It's raining in Beijing. How about Shanghai?</span> |
| − | * 这 个 用 中文 怎么 说？那 个<em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 这 个 用 中文 怎么 说？那 个<em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">How do I say this in Chinese? And that?</span> |
| − | * 我 吃 饭 了。你<em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 我 吃 饭 了。你<em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">I've eaten. What about you?</span> |
| − | * 我 知道 你 会 说 中文。你 老公<em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 我 知道 你 会 说 中文。你 老公 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">I know you can speak Chinese. What about your husband?</span> |
| − | * 这 个 周末 没 空？下 个 周末 <em>呢</em>？<span class="trans"> | + | * 这 个 周末 没 空？下 个 周末 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">You don't have time this weekend? What about next weekend?</span> |
| − | * 我 现在 要 | + | * 我 现在 要 出去。你 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="trans">I'm going to go out now. How about you?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 10:07, 16 September 2013
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
The particle 呢 (ne) can be used to ask reciprocal questions, also known as "bounce back" questions. 呢 can also be used to ask questions such as "what about" or "how about."
Structure
Topic + 呢 ？
And it's as simple as that. Say what you want to ask about, then stick 呢 on the end. A very common way to use this is to return a question after being asked it. The classic example is this exchange:
A: 你 好 吗 ？
B: 我 很 好。你呢 ？
A: 我 也 很 好。
Examples
More 呢 examples (each of these can be translated as a "what about" question):
- 这个东西 呢 ？What about this thing?
- 你 妈妈 呢 ？What about your mom?
- 我们 呢 ？What about us?
- 篮球 呢 ？What about basketball?
- 这里 很 多 人。那里 呢 ？There are a lot of people here. How about over there?
- 北京 下 雨 了。上海 呢 ？It's raining in Beijing. How about Shanghai?
- 这 个 用 中文 怎么 说？那 个呢 ？How do I say this in Chinese? And that?
- 我 吃 饭 了。你呢 ？I've eaten. What about you?
- 我 知道 你 会 说 中文。你 老公 呢 ？I know you can speak Chinese. What about your husband?
- 这 个 周末 没 空？下 个 周末 呢 ？You don't have time this weekend? What about next weekend?
- 我 现在 要 出去。你 呢 ？I'm going to go out now. How about you?
See also
- Yes-no questions with "ma"
- Tag questions with "ma"
- Softening the tone of questions with "ne" (advanced article)
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 137) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 23-4) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 300-7) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 87-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 102-3, 251) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 97)→buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: How to use 呢 (ne) in Mandarin
