Difference between revisions of "Softening the tone of questions with "ne""
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
* 这 是 谁 做 的<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl"> (I wonder who did this?)</span> | * 这 是 谁 做 的<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl"> (I wonder who did this?)</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | In the previous example, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, | + | In the previous example, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, a bit like saying "I wonder" in English. Again, as in the first example, the question is not directly asked at the listener. |
===呢 with "verb 不 verb" questions=== | ===呢 with "verb 不 verb" questions=== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 38: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Again, | + | Again, the above sentences depends on context, and the interpretations given are just examples. |
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
| − | === | + | ===[http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照)] (A Practical Chinese Grammar for Foreigners) |
| + | pp.139-141=== | ||
Revision as of 01:39, 8 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.
Contents
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 呢？还是 去 泰国呢？我 得 想 一 想！
- 打 电脑 游戏 呢，还是 跟 朋友 去 泡 酒吧呢，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 笔呢? (I wonder whose pen this is)
- 这 是 谁 做 的呢? (I wonder who did this?)
In the previous example, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, a bit like saying "I wonder" in English. Again, as in the first example, the question is not directly asked at the listener.
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？ (Well are you going to go shopping or what??)
- 你 去 不 去 逛街呢？(Are you going to go shopping?)
- 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)
- 牛奶你喝不喝呢？ (Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup)
- 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)
- 你周末能不能加班呢？(Quite indirect, something like "Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")
Again, the above sentences depends on context, and the interpretations given are just examples.
Sources and further reading
===外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (A Practical Chinese Grammar for Foreigners)
pp.139-141===
