Tag questions with "ma"

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 ？ Zhèyàng zuò, duì ma?Like this, right?
• 你们 见过，对 吗 ？ Nǐmen jiànguo, duì ma?You’ve met, right?
• 他们 昨天 都 没 去， 是 吗 ？ Tāmen zuótiān dōu méi qù, shì ma? None of them went, right?
• 你 没 来 过， 是 吗 ？ Nǐ méi lái guò, shì ma?You haven't been here, right?
• 你 喜欢 我妹妹， 是 吗 ？ Nǐ xǐhuan wǒ mèimei, shì ma? You like my younger sister, don't you?
• 我们 去 你家， 好 吗 ？ Wǒmen qù nǐjiā, hǎo ma? Let's go to your place, OK?
• 不要 告诉 他， 好 吗 ？ Bú yào gàosù tā, hǎo ma?Don't tell him, Ok?
• 今天 我们 都 不 喝 酒， 好 吗 ？ Wǒmen hē chá, hǎo ma? Let's all not drink alcohol today, OK?
• 我 现在 想 去 洗手间， 可以 吗 ？Wǒ xiànzài xiǎng qù xǐshǒujiān, kěyǐ ma?I want to go to the bathroom now.Is it OK?
• 妈妈，我 要 吃 巧克力 ， 可以 吗 ？ Māma, wǒ yào chī qiǎokèlì, kěyǐ ma?Mom, I want to eat chocolate, may I?

See also

• Yes-no questions with "ma"
• Tag questions with "bu"
• Questions with "ne"

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