Difference between revisions of "Tag questions with "ma""
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* 你 喜欢 我妹妹, <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, <em>shì ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You like my younger sister, huh?</span> | * 你 喜欢 我妹妹, <em>是 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, <em>shì ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">You like my younger sister, huh?</span> | ||
* 我们 去 你 家 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù nǐ jiā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's go to your place, OK?</span> | * 我们 去 你 家 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù nǐ jiā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's go to your place, OK?</span> | ||
− | * 不要 告诉 他 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin"> Bú yào | + | * 不要 告诉 他 , <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin"> Bú yào gàosu tā, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Don't tell him, Ok?</span> |
* 今天 我们 都 不 喝 酒, <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒmen dōu bù hē jiǔ, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?</span> | * 今天 我们 都 不 喝 酒, <em>好 吗</em> ? <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒmen dōu bù hē jiǔ, <em>hǎo ma</em>?</span> <span class="trans">Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?</span> | ||
* 我 现在 想 去 洗手间, <em>可以 吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the bathroom now. Is that OK?</span> | * 我 现在 想 去 洗手间, <em>可以 吗</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, <em>kěyǐ ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the bathroom now. Is that OK?</span> |
Revision as of 01:20, 19 February 2016
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Keywords
As well as yes / no questions, you can also form tag questions with 吗 (ma). Tag questions are quick questions that are tagged on the end of a sentence to ask for confirmation. In English, this is often done with "right?", or negatively with "isn't it?"
The easiest way to do this in Chinese is to add some kind of confirmation word and 吗 (ma) on the end of the sentence.
Structure
A you can see below, the pattern typically involves words like 好 (hǎo), 对 (duì), 是 (shì), or 可以 (kěyǐ), followed by 吗 (ma).
……, 好 / 对 / 是 / 可以 + 吗?
By placing these on the end of a sentence, you can soften a suggestion or request confirmation.
Examples
- 这样 做,对 吗 ? Do it like this, right?
- 你们 见过,对 吗 ? You’ve met, right?
- 他们 昨天 都 没 去, 是 吗 ? None of them went yesterday, right?
- 你 没 来 过, 是 吗 ? You haven't been here, right?
- 你 喜欢 我妹妹, 是 吗 ? You like my younger sister, huh?
- 我们 去 你 家 , 好 吗 ? Let's go to your place, OK?
- 不要 告诉 他 , 好 吗 ? Don't tell him, Ok?
- 今天 我们 都 不 喝 酒, 好 吗 ? Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?
- 我 现在 想 去 洗手间, 可以 吗 ?I want to go to the bathroom now. Is that OK?
- 妈妈,我 要 吃 巧克力 , 可以 吗 ? Mom, I want to eat chocolate. May I?
See also
Sources and Further Reading
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 144-145) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 218) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 106) →buy