Difference between revisions of "Softening the tone of questions with "ne""

m (Text replacement - "bùnéng" to "bù néng")
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
We have seen before that 吧 can be used to [[Softening speech with "ba"|soften the tone of statements]],  or [[Suggestions with ba|make commands feel more like suggestions]]. 呢 works in same way, but it is used to make questions more indirect and uncertain in tone.  
 
We have seen before that 吧 can be used to [[Softening speech with "ba"|soften the tone of statements]],  or [[Suggestions with ba|make commands feel more like suggestions]]. 呢 works in same way, but it is used to make questions more indirect and uncertain in tone.  
  
==呢 used successively with 还是==
+
==呢 Used Successively with 还是==
  
 
呢 can be used successively in questions using 还是.
 
呢 can be used successively in questions using 还是.
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 去 缅甸 <em>呢</em>,<em>还是</em> 泰国<em>呢</em>?我 得 想 一 想!<span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù Miǎndiàn <em>ne</em>, háishì Tàiguó <em>ne</em>? Wǒ xiǎng xiǎng!</span><span class="trans">Should I go to Myanmar or Thailand? I have to think a bit!</span>
+
* 我 去 缅甸 <em>呢</em>,<em>还是</em> 泰国<em>呢</em>?我 得 想 一 想!<span class="pinyin">Wǒ qù Miǎndiàn <em>ne</em>, háishì Tàiguó <em>ne</em>? Wǒ děi xiǎng yi xiǎng!</span><span class="trans">Should I go to Myanmar or Thailand? I have to think a bit!</span>
*咱们 打 游戏 <em>呢</em> ,<em>还是</em> 泡吧 <em>呢</em> ,我 都 可以!<span class="pinyin">Zánmen dǎ yóuxì <em>ne</em>, háishì pào bā <em>ne</em>, wǒ dōu kěyǐ!</span><span class="trans">Should we play computer games or go to the bar? I can do either!</span>
+
*咱们 打 游戏 <em>呢</em> ,<em>还是</em> 泡吧 <em>呢</em> ,我 都 可以!<span class="pinyin">Zánmen dǎ yóuxì <em>ne</em>, háishì pào bā <em>ne</em>, wǒ dōu kěyǐ!</span><span class="trans">Should we play video games or go to the bar? I'm OK with either!</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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. A second verb is only necessary if different to the first verb.
+
The example sentences above almost have a tone that the speaker is talking to him/herself, as the question is not directly asked of the listener. A second verb is only necessary if different from the first verb.
  
==呢 with questions involving interrogative pronouns (哪儿,谁,怎么,什么 etc.)==
+
== 呢 with Questions Involving Interrogative Pronouns ==
 +
 
 +
Interrogative pronouns, of course, include 哪儿,谁,怎么,什么, 为什么, 什么时候, etc.
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
Line 32: Line 34:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 这 是 谁 的 笔<em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì shéi de bǐ <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I wonder whose pen this is.</span>
+
* 这 是 谁 的 笔 <em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì shéi de bǐ <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I wonder whose pen this is?</span>
* 他 去 哪儿 <em>了 呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Tā qù nǎ'erle <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I wonder where he's going?</span>
+
* 他 去 哪儿 <em>了 呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Tā qù nǎr le <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I wonder where he's going?</span>
* 怎么 会<em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Zěnme huì <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">How could that be?</span>
+
* 怎么 会 <em>呢</em>?<span class="pinyin">Zěnme huì <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">How could that be?</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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. Adding to 怎么会 as in the last example sentence can sound a bit feminine; overusing 呢 can have this result.
+
In the previous examples, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, a bit like saying "I wonder" in English. Again, as in the first usage, the question is not directly asked of the listener. Overusing 呢 in your questions can sound a bit feminine, though, so keep this in mind.
 +
 
 +
== 呢 with "Verb 不 Verb" Questions ==
  
==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. Tone of voice used is also an important factor here, and adding 呢 can give a tone of uncertainty, which sounds less demanding and more polite.
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.
 
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
Line 51: Line 54:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 你 去 不 去 逛街?<span class="expl">Said as though demanding an answer, potentially in a hurry.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ qù qù guàngjiē?</span><span class="trans">Well are you going to go shopping or what?</span>
+
* 你 <strong>去 不 去</strong> 逛街 ?<span class="expl">Said as though demanding an answer, potentially in a hurry.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>bu </strong> guàngjiē?</span><span class="trans">Well are you going to go shopping or what?</span>
* 你 去 不 去 逛街<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">Less intense, just asking a question.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ qù qù guàngjiē <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Are you going to go shopping?</span>
+
* 你 <strong>去 不 去</strong> 逛街 <em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">Less intense, just asking a question.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>bu </strong> guàngjiē <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Are you going to go shopping?</span>
* 牛奶 你 喝 不 喝?<span class="expl">Said to a child, with the implication that if the milk isn't drunk, there will be consequences, with emphasis placed on 喝</span><span class="pinyin">Niúnǎi nǐ hē hē?</span><span class="trans">Did you drink the milk or not?</span>
+
 
* 牛奶你喝不喝<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup.</span><span class="pinyin">Niúnǎi nǐ hē hē <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did you drink the milk?</span>
+
* 牛奶 你 <strong>喝 不 喝</strong> ?<span class="expl">Said to a child, with the implication that if the milk isn't drunk, there will be consequences, with emphasis placed on 喝</span><span class="pinyin">Niúnǎi nǐ <strong>bu </strong>?</span><span class="trans">Are you gonna drink the milk or not?</span>
* 你周末能不能加班?<span class="expl">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</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò néng néng jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Can you come into work on the weekend?</span>
+
* 牛奶 你 <strong>喝 不 喝</strong> <em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup.</span><span class="pinyin">Niúnǎi nǐ <strong>bu </strong> <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did you want to drink that milk?</span>
* 你周末能不能加班<em>呢</em>?<span class="expl">Much more indirect than the above example.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò néng néng jiābān <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")</span>
+
 
 +
* 你 周末 <strong>加 不 加班</strong> ?<span class="expl">Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This seems like an order, perhaps implying there will be consequences for not working overtime.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò <strong>jiā bu jiābān</strong>?</span><span class="trans">You're working this weekend, right?</span>
 +
* 你 周末 <strong>能 不 能</strong> 加班 ?<span class="expl">Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not super direct, as 能 has been added.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò <strong>néng bu néng</strong> jiābān?</span><span class="trans">Can you come into work on the weekend?</span>
 +
* 你 周末 <strong>能 不 能</strong> 加班 <em>呢</em> ?<span class="expl">Much more indirect than the above example, implying the person really does have a choice.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhōumò <strong>néng bu néng</strong> jiābān <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Again, the meaning of the above sentences depends on context, and the interpretations given are just examples.
+
Remember: the exact meaning of the above sentences depends on the full context, and tone of voice is very important as well. The interpretations given are just possible examples.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Latest revision as of 09:47, 18 January 2021

We have seen before that 吧 can be used to soften the tone of statements, or make commands feel more like suggestions. 呢 works in same way, but it is used to make questions more indirect and uncertain in tone.

呢 Used Successively with 还是

呢 can be used successively in questions using 还是.

Structure

Option 1 + 呢 + 还是 + Option 2 + 呢?

Examples

  • 我 去 缅甸 还是 泰国?我 得 想 一 想!Wǒ qù Miǎndiàn ne, háishì Tàiguó ne? Wǒ děi xiǎng yi xiǎng!Should I go to Myanmar or Thailand? I have to think a bit!
  • 咱们 打 游戏 还是 泡吧 ,我 都 可以!Zánmen dǎ yóuxì ne, háishì pào bā ne, wǒ dōu kěyǐ!Should we play video games or go to the bar? I'm OK with either!

The example sentences above almost have a tone that the speaker is talking to him/herself, as the question is not directly asked of the listener. A second verb is only necessary if different from the first verb.

呢 with Questions Involving Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns, of course, include 哪儿,谁,怎么,什么, 为什么, 什么时候, etc.

Structure

⋯⋯Interrogative Pronoun⋯⋯ + 呢?

Examples

  • 这 是 谁 的 笔 ?Zhè shì shéi de bǐ ne?I wonder whose pen this is?
  • 他 去 哪儿 了 呢Tā qù nǎr le ne?I wonder where he's going?
  • 怎么 会 Zěnme huì ne?How could that be?

In the previous examples, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, a bit like saying "I wonder" in English. Again, as in the first usage, the question is not directly asked of the listener. Overusing 呢 in your questions can sound a bit feminine, though, so keep this in mind.

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. Tone of voice used is also an important factor here, and adding 呢 can give a tone of uncertainty, which sounds less demanding and more polite.

Structure

Subj. + Verb 1 + 不 + Verb 1 + (Verb 2) + 呢?

Examples

  • 去 不 去 逛街 ?Said as though demanding an answer, potentially in a hurry.qù bu qù guàngjiē?Well are you going to go shopping or what?
  • 去 不 去 逛街 Less intense, just asking a question.qù bu qù guàngjiē ne?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Niúnǎi nǐ hē bu hē?Are you gonna drink the milk or not?
  • 牛奶 你 喝 不 喝 Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup.Niúnǎi nǐ hē bu hē ne?Did you want to drink that milk?
  • 你 周末 加 不 加班Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This seems like an order, perhaps implying there will be consequences for not working overtime.Nǐ zhōumò jiā bu jiābān?You're working this weekend, right?
  • 你 周末 能 不 能 加班 ?Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not super direct, as 能 has been added.Nǐ zhōumò néng bu néng jiābān?Can you come into work on the weekend?
  • 你 周末 能 不 能 加班 Much more indirect than the above example, implying the person really does have a choice.Nǐ zhōumò néng bu néng jiābān ne?Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")

Remember: the exact meaning of the above sentences depends on the full context, and tone of voice is very important as well. The interpretations given are just possible examples.

See also

Sources and further reading

HSK5