Asking Questions

Yes/no questions are formed by adding the particle ma 吗 at the end of a statement. The sentence stays in declarative order and the listener answers yes or no. This is the simplest question type for beginners.

The word for "what" is shénme 什么 and it replaces the noun or phrase you want to know. Use it in the normal position where the information would appear. This pattern works for things, actions, and categories.

Use shénme shíhòu 什么时候 to ask about time. Place it where the time phrase would go, usually before the verb or at the start of the sentence. This question asks for a specific moment or general time.

To ask about place, use nǎlǐ 哪里 or nǎr 哪儿. They function the same way: they replace the location phrase and appear where the place would be in the sentence. Both forms are common, with nǎr 哪儿 more colloquial.

Use wèishénme 为什么 to ask for reasons. It typically comes at the beginning of the sentence followed by the cause or explanation you want. The answer usually starts with a reason or because phrase.

Zěnme 怎么 asks about manner, method, or cause. It appears where the action is and can be followed by a verb, result, or explanation. Use it to find out how to do something or how something happened.

Duōshǎo 多少 asks about quantity or price. It replaces the number or amount in the sentence and is used for things you can count or measure. Place it where the number would normally go.

Shéi 谁 asks about people and takes the place of the person in question. It can be the subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase depending on the sentence. Use it to identify someone by name or role.

Tag questions add duì bu duì 对不对 or shì bu shì 是不是 at the end to confirm information. They turn a statement into a question that expects agreement. This is useful for double-checking or prompting a short response.

In spoken Mandarin, questions sometimes use particles like ne 呢 or tone changes instead of ma 吗. Adding ne 呢 can turn the question back to the listener or soften it. Context and intonation matter for these more natural forms.

Mandarin questions rely on particles, question words, and sentence patterns to route the listener toward the needed information. Practicing each type will make your conversations more precise and natural.

Yes-no questions keep the basic sentence order and add a particle like ma at the end to signal a question that expects affirmation or negation. This type is quick and common for confirming facts.

Alternative questions present two or more options and require the listener to choose between them. You pose them by placing choices on either side of a question particle or by intonation.

Wh-questions use question words like shénme (what), nǎ (which), shéi (who), and jǐ (how many) to ask for specific information. The question word replaces the relevant part of the sentence.

The particle ne can turn attention back to the listener or ask for complementary information, often used in short exchanges or when returning a question. It keeps scenes conversational and natural.

Tag questions like duì bu duì (right or not) and shì bú shì add a confirming tone and invite agreement. They repeat part of the statement in question form to soften the ask and check understanding.

To ask about companionship or association, use gēn or hé between two nouns, and sometimes turn the phrase into a question for clarity. They signal relationships like "with" or "together."

Time, place, and manner questions use specific question words and follow typical sentence patterns to pinpoint when, where, or how something happens. They guide the listener to give concrete details.

Reasons and causes are asked with words like wèishénme (why) and gēnshàng (to follow up) to uncover motivation or explanation. Responses often link back with because or provide context.

Quantities and prices are questioned with words like duōshǎo (how many/how much) and by placing measure words appropriately. These questions help get exact numbers or amounts in transactions.