Difference between revisions of "Softening the tone of questions with "ne""

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* 你周末能不能加班?<span class="expl">(Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not too direct, as 能 has been added. Saying 你加不加班 would seem more like an order)</span>
 
* 你周末能不能加班?<span class="expl">(Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not too direct, as 能 has been added. Saying 你加不加班 would seem more like an order)</span>
 
* 你周末能不能加班<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">(Quite indirect, something like "Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")</span>
 
* 你周末能不能加班<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">(Quite indirect, something like "Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")</span>
</em>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
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Again, the interpretations of the above sentences depends on context, the interpretations given are just examples.
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===

Revision as of 09:54, 7 November 2011

We have seen before that 吧 can be used soften the tone of statements, them commands feel more like suggestions. 呢 works the same, but it is used to modify the tone of a question, making it more indirect and uncertain.


呢 used successively with 还是

呢 can be used in the following structure:


V + N + 呢+ 还是 V + N + 呢 +(还是...)

  • 去 缅甸 呢,还是 去 越南 ?还是 去 泰国?我 得 想 一 想!
  • 打 电脑 游戏 ,还是 跟 朋友 去 泡 酒吧,都 不 太 好!


The example sentences above almost have a tone that the speaker is talking to him/herself, as the question is not directly asked at the listener.

呢 with questions involving interrogative pronouns (哪儿,谁,怎么,什么 etc.)

  • 这 是 谁 的 笔? (I wonder whose pen this is)
  • 这 是 谁 做 的? (I wonder who did this?)

In the previous example, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, or wondering. Again, as in the first example, the question is not directly asked of the listener, and can be used

呢 with "verb 不 verb" questions

If a "verb 不 verb" question is posed without 呢, it can appear as though the speaker is a bit impatient, or is ordering the listener to do something. This of course depends on the tone of voice used. Adding 呢 can give a tone of uncertainty, and is more polite.

  • 你 去 不 去 逛街(Are you going to go shopping?)
  • 你 去 不 去 逛街? (Well are you going to go shopping or what??)
  • 牛奶你喝不喝 (Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup)
  • 牛奶 你 喝 不 喝? (Said to a child, with the implication that if the milk isn't drunk, there will be consequences, with emphasis placed on 喝)
  • 你周末能不能加班?(Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not too direct, as 能 has been added. Saying 你加不加班 would seem more like an order)
  • 你周末能不能加班(Quite indirect, something like "Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")

Again, the interpretations of the above sentences depends on context, the interpretations given are just examples.


Sources and further reading

Websites