Difference between revisions of "Placement of question words"
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | + | ''Who'', ''what'', ''when'', ''where'', ''why'', and ''how'': these question words are all used when forming questions in Chinese. The important thing to remember is that [[word order]] is the same in Chinese for questions and statements. | |
== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
| − | === Common | + | === Common Question Words List === |
In English, question words are also known as ''wh-words'', as the majority of them begin with ''wh'': | In English, question words are also known as ''wh-words'', as the majority of them begin with ''wh'': | ||
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* 什么 <span class="pinyin">shénme</span><span class="trans">what</span> | * 什么 <span class="pinyin">shénme</span><span class="trans">what</span> | ||
| − | * 哪里 、 哪儿 <span class="pinyin"> | + | * 哪里 、 哪儿 <span class="pinyin">nǎlǐ, nǎr</span><span class="trans">where</span> |
* 哪个<span class="pinyin">nǎge</span><span class="trans">which</span> | * 哪个<span class="pinyin">nǎge</span><span class="trans">which</span> | ||
| − | * 谁 <span class="expl">In spoken Chinese, people normally say "shéi" | + | * 谁 <span class="expl">In spoken Chinese, people normally say "shéi," not "shuí"</span><span class="pinyin">shéi</span><span class="trans">who</span> |
* 什么时候 <span class="pinyin">shénme shíhou</span><span class="trans">when</span> | * 什么时候 <span class="pinyin">shénme shíhou</span><span class="trans">when</span> | ||
* 为什么 <span class="pinyin">wèishénme</span><span class="trans">why</span> | * 为什么 <span class="pinyin">wèishénme</span><span class="trans">why</span> | ||
* 怎么 <span class="pinyin">zěnme</span><span class="trans">how</span> | * 怎么 <span class="pinyin">zěnme</span><span class="trans">how</span> | ||
| + | * 多少 <span class="pinyin">duōshao</span><span class="trans">how many / how much</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Rules === | === 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.'' |
So if the statement is | So if the statement is | ||
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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. | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "What" with 什么 (shénme) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "Where" with 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr) == |
| + | |||
| + | The words 哪里 (nǎlǐ) and 哪儿 (nǎr) mean the same thing. The difference is simply regional preference: 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is preferred in the south (Shanghai, Taiwan), whereas 哪儿 (nǎr) is preferred in the north (Beijing, Xi'an). | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 在 <em>哪里</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 在 <em>哪里</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em>nǎlǐ</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are you?</span></li> |
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 在 <em>家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em>jiā</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm at home.</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 在 <em>家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em>jiā</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm at home.</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 这 个 周末 你 想 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin"> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 这 个 周末 你 想 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐ xiǎng qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where do you want to go this weekend?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 想 去 <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 想 去 <em>公园</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qù <em>gōngyuán</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the park.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你好，你 要 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo nǐ yào qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Hello, where do you want to go?</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你好，你 要 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo, nǐ yào qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Hello, where do you want to go?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去 <em>外滩</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去 <em>外滩</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù <em>Wàitān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the Bund.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "Which" with 哪个 (nǎge) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+Noun) ? | + | Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+ Noun) ? |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 <em>哪个</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào <em>nǎge</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which one do you want?</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 <em>哪个</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào <em>nǎge</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which one do you want?</span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 <em>这个</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 <em>这个</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em>zhège</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want this one.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 喜欢 <em>哪 个 菜</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 喜欢 <em>哪 个 菜</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan <em>nǎge cài</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which dish do you like?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 喜欢 <em>这 个 菜</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 喜欢 <em>这 个 菜</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>zhège cài</em>.</span><span class="trans">I like this dish.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 <em>哪 个 饭店</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 <em>哪 个 饭店</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǎge fàndiàn</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which restaurant are we going to? </span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 去 <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 去 <em>你 妈妈 的 饭店</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǐ māma de fàndiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are going to your mom's restaurant.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 在 <em>哪 个 房间</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 在 <em>哪 个 房间</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em>nǎge fángjiān</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which room are you in? </span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 在 <em>你 的 房间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em> nǐ de fángjiān</em>. </span><span class="trans">I'm in your room. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 在 <em>你 的 房间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em> nǐ de fángjiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm in your room.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 住 在 <em>哪 个 区</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù zài <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 住 在 <em>哪 个 区</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù zài <em>nǎge qū</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which district do you live in? </span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 住 在 <em>静安 区</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhù zài <em> Jìng'ān Qū </em>. </span><span class="trans">I live in Jing'an District. </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 住 在 <em>静安 区</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhù zài <em> Jìng'ān Qū </em>.</span><span class="trans">I live in Jing'an District.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "Who" with 谁 (shéi) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you?</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you?</span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 是 <em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 是 <em>他 女朋友</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì <em>tā nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm his girlfriend.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "When" with 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Examples for asking and telling ''when'' (to keep things simple, we'll just include questions about the future; asking questions about the past can be slightly more complicated and may involve the [[" | + | Examples for asking and telling ''when'' (to keep things simple, we'll just include questions about the future; asking questions about the past can be slightly more complicated and may involve the [[Using the "shi... de" construction|"shi... de" construction]]). |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>什么时候</em> 走？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shénme shíhou zǒu?</span><span class="trans">When are you guys leaving?</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>什么时候</em> 走？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shénme shíhou zǒu?</span><span class="trans">When are you guys leaving?</span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>下 个 月</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xià | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>下 个 月</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xià gè yuè zǒu.</span><span class="trans">We're leaving next month.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 <em>什么时候</em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 <em>什么时候</em> 吃饭？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen shénme shíhou chīfàn?</span><span class="trans">When are we eating?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>6 点</em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>6 点</em> 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liù diǎn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">We're eating at 6:00.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>爸爸 <em>什么时候</em> 回来？<span class="pinyin">Bàba shénme shíhou | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>爸爸 <em>什么时候</em> 回来？<span class="pinyin">Bàba shénme shíhou huílái?</span><span class="trans">When is dad coming back?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>爸爸 <em>周末</em> 回来。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zhōumò | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>爸爸 <em>周末</em> 回来。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zhōumò huílái.</span><span class="trans">Dad is coming back this weekend.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "Why" with 为什么 (wèishénme) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他们 <em>为什么</em> 不 喝 咖啡？<span class="pinyin"> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他们 <em>为什么</em> 不 喝 咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>wèishénme</em> bù hē kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you drink coffee?</span></li> |
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 咖啡 很 苦。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> kāfēi hěn kǔ.</span><span class="trans">Because coffee is bitter.</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 咖啡 很 苦。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> kāfēi hěn kǔ.</span><span class="trans">Because coffee is bitter.</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 早上<em>为什么</em> 不 在？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǎoshang <em>wèishénme</em> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 早上 <em>为什么</em> 不 在？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǎoshang <em>wèishénme</em> bù zài?</span><span class="trans">Why were you not here this morning? </span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 出去 见 朋友 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ chūqù jiàn péngyou le.</span><span class="trans">Because I | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 出去 见 朋友 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ chūqù jiàn péngyou le.</span><span class="trans">Because I went out to meet some friends.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>这些 外国人 <em>为什么</em> 不 喜欢 中国？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>这些 外国人 <em>为什么</em> 不 喜欢 中国？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē wàiguó rén <em>wèishénme</em> bù xǐhuan Zhōngguó?</span><span class="trans">Why do these foreigners not like China? </span></li> |
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 中国 人 太多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> Zhōngguó rén tài duō.</span><span class="trans">Because China has a lot of people.</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 中国 人 太多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> Zhōngguó rén tài duō.</span><span class="trans">Because China has a lot of people.</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Expressing " | + | == Expressing "How" with 怎么 (zěnme) == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 学习 中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 学习 中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span></li> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用 <span class="spaced">Grammar Wiki</span></em> 学习 中文 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng Grammar Wiki</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">I use the Grammar Wiki.</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用 <span class="spaced">Grammar Wiki</span></em> 学习 中文 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng Grammar Wiki</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">I use the Grammar Wiki to study Chinese.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 去 北京？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> qù | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 去 北京？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> qù Běijīng?</span><span class="trans">How do you go to Beijing? </span></li> |
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>坐 火车</em> 去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuò huǒchē</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">I take the train.</span></li> | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>坐 火车</em> 去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuò huǒchē</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">I take the train.</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
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== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|15, 23, 66}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|57}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)|66, 251}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|46}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|23}} | |
| + | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|132-5}} | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
[[Category:Dialogs]] | [[Category:Dialogs]] | ||
{{Basic Grammar|什么|A1|什么 / 什么时候 / 谁 / 哪儿 / 为什么 / 怎么|你 是 <em>谁</em> ？你 在 <em>哪儿</em> ？|grammar point|ASGJQPSC}} | {{Basic Grammar|什么|A1|什么 / 什么时候 / 谁 / 哪儿 / 为什么 / 怎么|你 是 <em>谁</em> ？你 在 <em>哪儿</em> ？|grammar point|ASGJQPSC}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 09:20, 20 April 2021
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
Who, what, when, where, why, and how: these question words are all used when forming questions in Chinese. The important thing to remember is that word order is the same in Chinese for questions and statements.
Contents
- 1 Overview
- 2 Expressing "What" with 什么 (shénme)
- 3 Expressing "Where" with 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr)
- 4 Expressing "Which" with 哪个 (nǎge)
- 5 Expressing "Who" with 谁 (shéi)
- 6 Expressing "When" with 什么时候 (shénme shíhou)
- 7 Expressing "Why" with 为什么 (wèishénme)
- 8 Expressing "How" with 怎么 (zěnme)
- 9 See also
- 10 Sources and further reading
Overview
Common Question Words List
In English, question words are also known as wh-words, as the majority of them begin with wh:
- 什么 what
- 哪里 、 哪儿 where
- 哪个which
- 谁 In spoken Chinese, people normally say "shéi," not "shuí"who
- 什么时候 when
- 为什么 why
- 怎么 how
- 多少 how many / how much
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.
Expressing "What" with 什么 (shénme)
Structure
Subj. + Verb + 什么 + (Noun) ?
Examples
- A: 这 是 什么？What is this?
- B:这 是 我 的 iPad。This is my iPad.
- A:你 喜欢 吃 什么 菜？What kind of food do you like?
- B:我 喜欢 吃 中国 菜。I like Chinese food.
- A:你 用 什么 手机？What kind of cell phone do you use?
- B:我 用 iPhone。I use an iPhone.
- A:你 在 看 什么 书？What kind of book are you reading?
- B:我 在 看 小说。I am reading a novel.
- A:他 开 什么 车？ What kind of car does he drive?
- B:他 开 宝马。He drives a BMW.
Expressing "Where" with 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr)
The words 哪里 (nǎlǐ) and 哪儿 (nǎr) mean the same thing. The difference is simply regional preference: 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is preferred in the south (Shanghai, Taiwan), whereas 哪儿 (nǎr) is preferred in the north (Beijing, Xi'an).
Structure
Subj. + Verb + 哪里 / 哪儿 ?
Examples
- A:你 在 哪里？Where are you?
- B:我 在 家。I'm at home.
- A:你 要 去 哪儿？Where are you going now?
- B:我 要 去 洗手间。I'm going to the bathroom.
- A:我们 在 哪儿？Where are we?
- B:我们 在 南京西路。We are at West Nanjing road.
- A: 这 个 周末 你 想 去 哪儿？Where do you want to go this weekend?
- B:我 想 去 公园。I want to go to the park.
- A: 你好，你 要 去 哪儿？Hello, where do you want to go?
- B:我 要 去 外滩。I want to go to the Bund.
Expressing "Which" with 哪个 (nǎge)
Structure
Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+ Noun) ?
Examples
- A:你 要 哪个？Which one do you want?
- B:我 要 这个。I want this one.
- A:你 喜欢 哪 个 菜？Which dish do you like?
- B:我 喜欢 这 个 菜。I like this dish.
- A: 我们 去 哪 个 饭店？Which restaurant are we going to?
- B: 我们 去 你 妈妈 的 饭店。We are going to your mom's restaurant.
- A: 你 在 哪 个 房间？Which room are you in?
- B: 我 在 你 的 房间。I'm in your room.
- A: 你 住 在 哪 个 区？Which district do you live in?
- B: 我 住 在 静安 区。I live in Jing'an District.
Expressing "Who" with 谁 (shéi)
Structure
Subj. + 是 + 谁 ?
谁 + Verb ?
Examples
- A:你 是 谁？Who are you?
- B:我 是 他 女朋友。I'm his girlfriend.
- A:她 是 谁？Who is she?
- B:她 是 我的老师。She‘s my teacher.
- A:你 不 喜欢 谁？Who do you not like?
- B:我 不 喜欢 我 的 老板。I don't like my boss.
- A:谁 想 去？Who wants to go?
- B:我 想 去。I want to go.
- A:谁 想 喝 咖啡？Who wants to drink coffee?
- B:我 想 喝 咖啡。I want to drink coffee.
Expressing "When" with 什么时候 (shénme shíhou)
Structure
Subj. + 什么时候 + Predicate ?
Examples for asking and telling when (to keep things simple, we'll just include questions about the future; asking questions about the past can be slightly more complicated and may involve the "shi... de" construction).
Examples
- A:你 什么时候 来 ？ When are you coming?
- B:我 明天 来。I'm coming tomorrow.
- A:你们 什么时候 走？When are you guys leaving?
- B:我们 下 个 月 走。We're leaving next month.
- A:我们 什么时候 吃饭？When are we eating?
- B:我们 6 点 吃饭。We're eating at 6:00.
- A:爸爸 什么时候 回来？When is dad coming back?
- B:爸爸 周末 回来。Dad is coming back this weekend.
- A:你 的 飞机 什么时候 到 上海？When is your airplane arriving in Shanghai?
- B:晚上 八点。Eight o'clock this evening.
Expressing "Why" with 为什么 (wèishénme)
Structure
Subj. + 为什么 + Predicate ?
Examples
- A:你 为什么 学 中文？Why do you study Chinese?
- B:因为 我 在 中国 工作。 Because I'm working in China.
- A:他们 为什么 不 喝 咖啡？Why don't you drink coffee?
- B:因为 咖啡 很 苦。Because coffee is bitter.
- A:他 为什么 不 来？Why isn't he coming?
- B:因为 他 很 忙。Because he is busy.
- A:你 早上 为什么 不 在？Why were you not here this morning?
- B:因为 我 出去 见 朋友 了。Because I went out to meet some friends.
- A:这些 外国人 为什么 不 喜欢 中国？Why do these foreigners not like China?
- B:因为 中国 人 太多。Because China has a lot of people.
Expressing "How" with 怎么 (zěnme)
Structure
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb (+ Obj.) ?
Examples
- A:你 怎么 学习 中文？How do you study Chinese?
- B:我 用 Grammar Wiki 学习 中文 。I use the Grammar Wiki to study Chinese.
- A:你 怎么 上网？How do you go online?
- B:我 用 手机 上网。I use my cell phone to go online.
- A:你 怎么 去 北京？How do you go to Beijing?
- B:我 坐 火车 去。I take the train.
- A:你们 怎么 回家 ？How are you guys going to get home?
- B:我 开车 回家。I‘m driving home.
- A:你 怎么 买 票 ？ How do you buy tickets?
- B:我 上网 买 票 。I go online to buy tickets.
See also
Sources and further reading
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 15, 23, 66) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 57) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 66, 251) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 46) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 23) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 132-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
