A Beginner’s Guide to Chinese Question Words and Sentence Structures

As you embark on your journey to learn the Chinese language, you’ll quickly realize that asking questions is a fundamental skill that opens the doors to effective communication. While simple greetings like 你好 (nǐ hǎo) and 谢谢 (xièxiè) may be among the first words you learn, the ability to ask questions is equally crucial in any language.

In this comprehensive guide, we will dive deep into the world of Chinese question words, exploring two main question types: Yes-No Questions and Wh- Questions. Understanding these question types will form the foundation for your proficiency. Along the way, we’ll unravel the purpose and usage of key question particles, such as 吗 (ma), 呢 (ne), and 吧 (ba) and delve into the most commonly used question words in Chinese.

Whether you’re a beginner eager to grasp the basics or an intermediate learner looking to fine-tune your question-asking abilities, this article aims to provide you with a clear and concise roadmap to navigate the unique nuances of Chinese question words.

• Yes – No Questions and Wh- Questions
  • Yes – No Questions
  • Wh- Questions
• Common Question Words in Chinese
  • Chinese Question particles: 吗, 呢, 吧
  • Special Interrogative Question Words in Chinese
    • 什么  – what
    • 谁 – who/whom
    • 哪儿/哪里 & 什么地方 – where/what place
    • 哪 – which
    • 怎么– how
    • 怎么样 – how about/what about
    • 为什么– why
    • 什么时候 & 几点 –  when/what time
    • 几岁 & 多大 –  how old
    • 几 – how many/how much
    • 多少 – how many/how much
    • 多 – numbers and sizes

Yes – No Questions and Wh- Questions

In Chinese, there are two types of questions: Yes – No Questions and Wh- Questions. Understanding these question types will help us know where to place the question words in a sentence.

Yes – No Questions

A Yes – No Question, also known as a General Interrogative Sentence, can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” To form this type of question, we add a question mark “?” and the particle 吗(ma) at the end of a declarative sentence.

Declarative Sentence + 吗？

Wh- Questions

A Wh- Question, or Special Interrogative Sentence, is used to ask about specific information like a person, time, reason, method, place, quantity, and more. These questions cannot be answered with just “yes” or “no.”

Common Question Words in Chinese

Now that we’ve learned some basics about question types and structures in Chinese, we’ll explore the essential role of question words. Here are some frequently used question words:

Chinese Question particles: 吗, 呢, 吧

1. 吗

By adding 吗 (ma) at the end of a sentence, the statement becomes a Yes – No Question. Refer to the “Yes – No Question” section.

Declarative Sentence + 吗？

2. 呢

呢 (ne) is placed after a noun or pronoun to ask bounce-back questions in Chinese, similar to “how about” or “what about” in English. It can also inquire about the location of someone or something when there is no related statement before.

noun/pronoun + 呢？

3. 吧

吧 (ba) is used at the end of a sentence to indicate the speaker’s desire to confirm something or ask for agreement or permission.

Sentence + 吧？

Special Interrogative Question Words in Chinese

1. 什么  – what  

什么 (shénme), or “what,” is one of the most commonly used question words in Chinese.

2. 谁 – who/whom

谁 (shuí/shéi) can function as the subject or object in a sentence, similar to “who” and “whom” in English.

3. 哪儿/哪里 & 什么地方 – where/what place

哪儿 (nǎr) or 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is used to ask about the location where something happened. Additionally, we can use the phrase 什么地方 (shénme dìfɑnɡ), which means “what place” literally.

4. 哪 – which

哪(nǎ) can be combined with another measure word or noun to ask about a specific one, like 哪国(nǎ guó, which country)，哪家(nǎ jiā, which family), 哪些人(nǎ xiē rén, which group of people), 哪本书(nǎ běn shū, which book), and so on.

哪(nǎ) + measure word / noun

5. 怎么– how

怎么 (zěnme) is used to ask about a method or an explanation.

Note: There is a fixed phrase, 怎么办 (zěnme bàn), which functions more like a question tag, used to ask what to do in a certain situation.

For example:

我忘带钥匙了，怎么办? (Wǒ wànɡ dài yàoshi le, zěnme bàn?)
I forgot my key, what should I do?

快考试了，但是我还没准备好，怎么办？(Kuài kǎoshì le, dànshì wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo, zěnme bàn?)
What on earth shall I do? I haven’t prepared well but the test is coming up.

6. 怎么样 – how about/what about

怎么样(zěnmeyàng), which can be shortened to 怎样(zěnyàng), is used to inquire about a condition, situation, or status.

7. 为什么– why

为什么(wèishénme) is used to ask about the reason for something.

Note: The position of 为什么(wèishénme) in a question is flexible, and it can be placed before or after the subject, or even at the end of a sentence as a question tag.

8. 什么时候 & 几点 –  when/what time

When asking about time, we can use 什么时候(shénme shíhou)  or 几点(jǐ diǎn). 几点(jǐ diǎn) is typically used for specific time points, while 什么时候(shénme shíhou) is more versatile and can refer to any kind of time.

9. 几岁 & 多大 –  how old

几岁 (jǐ suì) and 多大 (duōdà) are both used to ask about a person’s age. Generally, 几岁 (jǐ suì) is used for kids under 10 years old, while 多大 (duōdà) is used for individuals over 10 years old or adults of the same age or status.

 10. 几 – how many/how much

几 (jǐ), when combined with a measure word or a noun, is used to ask about quantities, such as 几斤(jǐ jīn, how many jin), 几年(jǐ niǎn, how many years), 几个人(jǐge rén, how many people), etc.

几+measure word/noun

Note: Generally, 几 (jǐ) is used for numbers less than 10. For other situations, we can use 多少 (duōshǎo).

11. 多少 – how many/how much

As mentioned earlier, 多少 (duōshǎo) can be used to inquire about how many or how much. It can stand alone or, similar to 几 (jǐ), it can be used with a measure word or a noun like.

多少 + Measure word/Noun

Note: 多少钱(duōshǎo qián) is a common way to ask how much something costs in Chinese.

12. 多 – numbers and sizes

When combined with an adjective, 多 (duō) indicates the quantity or extent of something, such as 多大 (duō dà, how old/how big), 多高 (duō ɡāo, how tall), 多远 (duō yuǎn, how far), 多久 (duō jiǔ, for how long), 多长 (duō chánɡ, how long), etc.

多 + Adjective

Notes：

• 多 (duō) alone doesn’t express a specific number; it requires an adjective to convey a numerical meaning.
• When asking about a duration of time, besides 多久(duō jiǔ), 多长时间(duō chánɡ shíjiān) is also frequently used.

e.g.

从这里去西安要多长时间？(Cónɡ zhèli qù Xī’ān yào duō chánɡ shíjiān?)
How long it will take to get from here to Xi An?

做这个项目你们花了多长时间？(Zuò zhèɡe xiànɡmù nǐmen huāle duō chánɡ shíjiān?)
How long did you take for this program?

Congratulations! You’ve now completed your comprehensive guide to mastering Chinese question words. From understanding the two main question types, Yes-No Questions and Wh-Questions, to exploring the nuances of essential question particles like 吗 (ma), 呢 (ne), and 吧 (ba), you’ve laid a strong foundation for effective communication in Chinese. By familiarizing yourself with the most commonly used question words in Chinese, such as 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), 哪儿 (nǎr), 怎么 (zěnme), and many others, you’ve gained valuable insights into how to seek specific information and engage in meaningful conversations.

Embrace the art of asking questions in Chinese, and you’ll find yourself building bridges with native speakers, forming deeper connections, and gaining a profound appreciation for the language. We hope this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and confidence to start asking “你会说中文吗？“

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