Questions with "ne"

The particle 呢 (ne) can be used to ask reciprocal questions, also known as "bounce back" questions. 呢 (ne) 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 (ne) 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 ？Nǐ hǎo ma?
• B: 我 很 好。你 呢 ？Wǒ hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?
• A: 我 也 很 好 。Wǒ yě hěn hǎo.

Examples

More 呢 (ne) examples (each of these can be translated as a "what about" question):

• 这 个 很 好 ， 那 个 呢 ？Zhè ge hěn hǎo, nà gè ne?This one is good. What about that one?
• 这 个 用 中文 怎么 说？那 个 呢 ？Zhè ge yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? Nà gè ne?How do I say this in Chinese? And that?
• 我 在 家，你 呢 ？Wǒ zài jiā. Nǐ ne?I'm at home. What about you?
• 你 爸爸 是 上海 人 ，你 妈妈 呢 ？Nǐ bàba shì Shànghǎi rén. Nǐ māmā ne?Your father is Shanghainese. And your mom?
• 你 说 他们 可以 去。我们 呢 ？Nǐ shuō tāmen kěyǐ qù. Wǒmen ne?You said they can go. What about us?
• 你 哥哥 有 工作，弟弟 呢 ？Nǐ gēge yǒu gōngzuò. Dìdi ne?You big brother has a job. What about your little brother?
• 北京 下雨 了 。 上海 呢 ？Běijīng xiàyǔ le. Shànghǎi ne?It's raining in Beijing. How about Shanghai?
• 我 现在 要 出去 。 你 呢 ？Wǒ xiànzài yào chūqù. Nǐ ne?I'm going to go out now. How about you?
• 我 知道 你 会 说 中文 。 你 老公 呢 ？Wǒ zhīdào nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén. Nǐ lǎogōng ne?I know you can speak Chinese. What about your husband?
• 这 个 周末 我 想 去 酒吧 。 你们呢 ？Zhè ge zhōumò wǒ xiǎng qù jiǔbā.Nǐmen ne?I want to go to a bar this weekend. What about you all?
• 今天 晚上 没 空 ？ 明天 晚上呢 ？Jīntiān wǎnshàng méi kòng? Míngtiān wǎnshàng ne?You don't have time tonight? What about tomorrow evening?

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 (p. 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