Expressing "some" with question words

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The "some" we refer to is the vague, undefined "some," as in "somewhere," "someone," "something," or "sometime." Chinese question words can play this double role.

"Somewhere" with 哪儿

Examples

  • 这个 人 我 在 哪儿 见 过 。Zhège rén wǒ zài nǎr jiàn guo.I met this person somewhere.
  • 这 首 歌 我 在 哪儿 听 过 。Zhè shǒu gē wǒ zài nǎr tīng guo.I've heard this song somewhere.
  • 这 篇 文章 我们 在 哪儿 看 过 。Zhè piān wénzhāng wǒmen zài nǎr kàn guo.I've read this article somewhere.

"Someone" with 谁

Examples

  • 你 让 来 帮 我 一下 。Nǐ ràng shéi lái bāng wǒ yīxià.Ask somebody to help me with this.
  • 这 件 事 我 听 说 过 。Zhè jiàn shì wǒ tīng shéi shuō guo.I've heard someone say this before.
  • 你 找 带 你 进去 吧 。Nǐ zhǎo shéi dài nǐ jìnqù ba.You should find someone to take you inside.

"Something" with 什么

Examples

  • 我们 应该 做 点儿 什么Wǒmen yīnggāi zuò diǎnr shénme.We should do something.
  • 老大 ,你 不 说 点儿 什么Lǎodà, nǐ bù shuō diǎnr shénme?Boss, aren't you going to say something?
  • 我 想 喝 点儿 什么Wǒ xiǎng hē diǎnr shénme.I want to drink something.

"Sometime" with 什么时候

Examples

  • 什么 时候 我们 见面 谈 吧 。Shénme shíhou wǒmen jiànmiàn tán ba.Let's meet and talk about this sometime.
  • 什么 时候 来 我 新 家 玩 吧 。Shénme shíhou lái wǒ xīn jiā wán ba.You should come to my new house to hangout sometime.
  • 我们 什么 时候 去 看看 他 吧 。Wǒmen shénme shíhou qù kànkan tā ba.Let's pay him a visit sometime.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books