Interrogative pronouns
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Interrogative pronouns are the pronouns you use to ask questions. The placement of question words is actually a little easier than it is in English, because Chinese doesn't move them around like English does. Instead, the question words stay "in-situ", that is, where the answer to the question will go.
The Pronouns
These are the main interrogative pronouns, often called "WH-words" in English because most of them start with those letters.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| who | 谁 | shéi |
| what | 什么 | shénme |
| where | 哪里 | nǎli |
| when | 什么时候 | shénme shíhou |
| why | 为什么 | wèishénme |
| how | 怎么 | zěnme |
The words to ask about quantity are 多少 and 几. 多少 is a versatile interrogative pronoun and can cover any number, but 几 is generally used for numbers 1 - 9. Additionally, 几 requires a measure word, but 多少 doesn't need one. Interrogative pronouns can act as indefinite references meaning "anything", "anyone", "something" or "someone." e.g. 谁都喜欢中国菜.
Sources
- A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 95-105) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 32-4) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 46-7) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 135) →buy
