Difference between revisions of "Yes-no questions with "ma""

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== How to Answer ==
 
== How to Answer ==
 
肯定回答可以分两种,最简单的回答是“嗯(ǹg)”或者“对”,不能像英语一样回答“是”。第二种回答是重复[Statement]里的动词。否定回答也可以用“嗯(ǹg)”或者“对”表示“no.”更完整的回答是“不/没+动词.”
 
  
 
You can answer a Chinese yes-no question in one of two ways:
 
You can answer a Chinese yes-no question in one of two ways:
  
# Answer with 对 (duì) or the more casual 嗯 (ǹg).
+
# Answer with 对 (duì) or the more casual 嗯 (ǹg) to affirm what was asked.
 
# Answer a clearer "yes" by simply repeating the positive form of the verb, or "no" by using the negative form of the verb.
 
# Answer a clearer "yes" by simply repeating the positive form of the verb, or "no" by using the negative form of the verb.
  
Here's the slightly tricky part: if you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the ''positive'', then you're saying "'''yes'''." If you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the ''negative'', then you're saying "'''no'''." Let's take a look at some examples of this sort.
+
Here's the slightly tricky part: if you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the ''positive'', then you're saying "'''yes'''" (and affirming the ''positive'' verb in the question). If you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the ''negative'', then you're saying "'''no'''" (and affirming the ''negative'' verb in the question). Let's take a look at some examples of this sort.
  
 
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Revision as of 02:46, 10 May 2018

The question particle 吗 (ma) is a simple way to form questions in Chinese. By placing 吗 (ma) on the end of a statement, you convert it into a yes/no question (questions that could be answered with "yes" or "no" in English).

Basic Usage

Structure

Any statement can be converted into a yes/no question with 吗 (ma). You could think of 吗 (ma) as being like a question mark you say out loud. So the basic structure is:

[Statement] + 吗 ?

Examples

  • 你 喜欢 咖啡 。 statementNǐ xǐhuan kāfēi.You like coffee.

The sentence "You like coffee" can easily be converted into the question "Do you like coffee?" by adding 吗 (ma):

  • 你 喜欢 咖啡 questionNǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?Do you like coffee?

More examples of statements and their yes/no question forms:

  • 你 是 大 学生 。statementNǐ shì dàxuéshēng.You are a college student.
  • 你 是 大 学生 questionNǐ shì dàxuéshēng ma?Are you a college student?
  • 他 是 老板。 statementTā shì lǎobǎn.He is the boss.
  • 他 是 老板 questionTā shì lǎobǎn ma?Is he the boss?
  • 你 喜欢 她 。statementNǐ xǐhuan tā.You like her.
  • 你 喜欢 她 questionNǐ xǐhuan tā ma?Do you like her?
  • 你 想 家 。statementNǐ xiǎng jiā.You miss home.
  • 你 想 家 questionNǐ xiǎng jiā ma?Do you miss home?
  • 爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶 。statementBàba xǐhuan hē chá.Dad likes drinking tea.
  • 爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶 questionBàba xǐhuan hē chá ma?Does dad like drinking tea?
  • 你们 也 去。 statementNǐmen yě qù.You also go.
  • 你们 也 去 questionNǐmen yě qù ma?Are you also going?
  • 他 在 你们 学校 学 中文。 statementTā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén.He studies Chinese in your school.
  • 他 在 你们 学校 学 中文 questionTā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén ma?Does he study Chinese in your school?
  • 我 见 过 你 。statement Wǒ jiàn guo nǐ.I've met you.
  • 我 见 过 你 questionWǒ jiàn guo nǐ ma?Have I met you?
  • 妈妈 会 做饭 。statementMāma huì zuòfàn.Mom knows how to cook.
  • 妈妈 会 做饭 questionMāma huì zuòfàn ma?Does mom know how to cook?
  • 你 昨天 没 去 上班 。statementNǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān.You didn't go to work yesterday.
  • 你 昨天 没 去 上班 questionNǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān ma?Did you not go to work yesterday?

It's important to remember that you do not normally add 吗 (ma) to a sentence that's already a question. For example:

  • 你 是 谁 谁 is a question wordNǐ shì shéi ma?
  • 这 是 不 是 书 是不是 is a question patternZhè shì bu shì shū ma?

These would be something like "Are you who are you?" and "Is this is a book?" in English, both obviously ungrammatical. Still, if you're not careful, you may find yourself throwing a 吗 (ma) onto the end of a question that doesn't need it. Many learners make this mistake, so don't worry if it happens every once in a while, just catch it and remember it the next time.

How to Answer

You can answer a Chinese yes-no question in one of two ways:

  1. Answer with 对 (duì) or the more casual 嗯 (ǹg) to affirm what was asked.
  2. Answer a clearer "yes" by simply repeating the positive form of the verb, or "no" by using the negative form of the verb.

Here's the slightly tricky part: if you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the positive, then you're saying "yes" (and affirming the positive verb in the question). If you answer with 对 (duì) and the question is in the negative, then you're saying "no" (and affirming the negative verb in the question). Let's take a look at some examples of this sort.

  • A: 你 是 大 学生 Positive verb in the questionNǐ shì dàxuéshēng ma?Are you a college student?
  • B: 对 。对 (duì) affirms the positive verb.Duì.Yes, I am.
  • A: 你 没 有 工作 Negative verb in the questionNǐ méiyǒu gōngzuò ma?Do you not have a job?
  • B: 对 。对 (duì) affirms the negative verb.Duì.No, I don't.
  • A: 你 昨天 没 来 QuestionNǐ méi ma?You didn't come yesterday, did you?
  • B: 我 来 了 。Repeat the verb for greater clarity.Duì.I came.
  • A: 他 昨天 来 了 Questionma?You didn't come yesterday, did you?
  • B: 对 。对 (duì) affirms the negative verb.Duì.No. (I didn't come.)
  • A:你 喜欢 中国菜 Positive verb in the questionNǐ xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma?Do you like Chinese food?
  • B: 喜欢 。Repeat the verb for greater clarity.Duì.Yes, I do.
  • A: 你 不 喜欢 中国菜 Negative verb in the questionNǐ bù xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma?Do you like Chinese food?
  • C: 对 。对 (duì) affirms the negative verb.Duì.No. (I don't.)

More Advanced Usage

However, this doesn't mean that a sentence can't ever have a question word and 吗 (ma). If a sentence contains verbs of understanding such as 知道 (zhīdào),了解 (liǎojiě), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc., then 吗 (ma) can still be added at the end of the question. You will later learn more about these advanced yes-no questions with "ma".

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books