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

major questons in chinese

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

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 SentenceDeclarative Sentence + 吗?Answer
我是中国人。 (Wǒ shì Zhōnɡɡuó Rén.) I’m Chinese.你是中国人? (Nǐ shì Zhōnɡɡuó Rén mɑ?) Are you Chinese?是。(Shì.)Yes. 不是。(Bú shì.)No.
哥哥喜欢吃饺子和包子。 (Gēɡe xǐhuɑn chī Jiǎozi hé Bāozi.) The elder brother likes eating Jiaozi and Baozi.哥哥喜欢吃饺子和包子? (Gēɡe xǐhuɑn chī Jiǎozi hé Bāozi ma?) Does the elder brother like eating Jiaozi and Baozi?  喜欢。(Xǐhuɑn.)Yes. 不喜欢。(Bù xǐhuɑn.) No.
小明认识这个人。 (Xiǎo Mínɡ rènshi zhèɡe rén.) Xiao Ming knows this man.小明认识这个人? (Xiǎo Mínɡ rènshi zhèɡe rén ma?) Does Xiao Ming know this man?认识。(Rènshi.) Yes. 不认识。(Bú rènshi.) No.

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.”

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
我想吃红烧肉。 (Wǒ xiǎnɡ chī Hónɡshāo Ròu.) I want to eat Braised Pork Belly.你想吃什么? (Nǐ xiǎnɡ chī shénme?) What do you want to eat?
他们早上去公园了。 (Tāmen zǎoshɑnɡ qù ɡōnɡyuán le.) They went to the park this morning.他们早上去哪里了? (Tāmen zǎoshɑnɡ qù nǎli le?) Where did they go this morning?
你可以骑车去学校。 (Nǐ kěyǐ qí chē qù xuéxiào.) You can ride a bike to go to school.怎么去学校? (Zěnme qù xuéxiào?) How to go to the school?

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 SentenceDeclarative Sentence + 吗?
他们在看电视剧《长相思》。 (Tāmen zài kàn diànshìjù Chánɡ Xiānɡsī.) They are watching the drama Lost You Forever.他们在看电视剧《长相思》? (Tāmen zài kàn diànshìjù Chánɡ Xiānɡsī mɑ?) Are they watching the drama Lost You Forever?
爸爸打算去湖南旅游。 (Bàbɑ dǎsuɑn qù Húnán lǚyóu.) My father plans to travel toHunan.爸爸打算去湖南旅游? (Bàbɑ dǎsuɑn qù Húnán lǚyóu ma?) Does your father plan to travel to Hunan?
这里的东西都很贵。 (Zhèlǐ de dōnɡxi dōu hěn ɡuì.) Things here are very expensive.这里的东西都很贵? (Zhèlǐ de dōnɡxi dōu hěn ɡuì ma?) Are things here very expensive?

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.

我是中国人,你?(Wǒ shì Zhōnɡɡuó rén, nǐ ne?) I’m Chinese, and you?
小明去扫地,小华?(Xiǎo Mínɡ qù sǎodì, Xiǎo Huá ne?) Xiaoming goes to sweep the floor, how about Xiaohua?
这是你的钥匙,我钥匙?(Zhè shì nǐde yàishi, wǒ yàoshi ne?) Here is your key, where is mine?

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.

我们明天再去爬山?(Wǒmen mínɡtiān zài qù pá shān bɑ?) How about we go to climb the mountain tomorrow?
会议是三点开始?(Huìyì shì sān diǎn kāishǐ bɑ?) The meeting begins at three o’clock, right?
他唱得真好听,对?(Tā chànɡde zhēn hǎo tīnɡ, duìbɑ?) They sang really well, right?

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.

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
我在找我的电脑。 (Wǒ zài zhǎo wǒde diànnǎo.) I’m looking for my computer.你在找什么? (Nǐ zài zhǎo shénme?) What are you looking for?
今天晚上他们要吃烤鱼。 (Jīntiān wǎnshɑnɡ tāmen yào chī kǎo yú.) They want to eat grilled fish tonight.今天晚上他们要吃什么? (Jīntiān wǎnshɑnɡ tāmen yào chī shénme?) What do they want to eat tonight?
妹妹买了三套汉服和一个包。 (Mèimei mǎile sān tào Hànfú hé yíɡe bāo.)  The younger sister bought three sets of Hanfu and a bag.妹妹买了什么? (Mèimei mǎile shénme?) What did the young sister buy?

2. 谁 – who/whom

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

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
是我大学同学。 (Tā shì wǒ dàxué tónɡxué.) He is my university classmate.是你大学同学? (Shéi shì nǐ dàxué tónɡxué?) Who is your university classmate?
我们都认识那个男孩。 (Wǒmen dōu rènshí nàɡe nánhái.) We all know that boy.我们都认识? (Wǒmen dōu rènshí shéi?) Whom do we know?
他女儿想和小华一起去学跳舞。 (Tā nǚ’ér xiǎnɡ hé Xiǎo Huá yìqǐ qù xué tiào wǔ.)  His daughter wants to study dancing with Xiao Hua.他女儿想和一起去学跳舞? (Tā nǚ’ér xiǎnɡ hé shéi yìqǐ qù xué tiào wǔ?) Whom does his daughter want to study dancing with?

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.

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
他们昨天一直在家里看电视。 (Tāmen zuótiān yìzhí zài jiāli kàn diànshì.) They were watching TV at home yesterday.他们昨天在哪里? (Tāmen zuótiān zài nǎlǐ?) Where were they yesterday?
弟弟和妹妹都想去动物园。 (Dìdi hé mèimei dōu xiǎnɡ qù dònɡwùyuán.) The younger brother and the younger sister both want to visit the zoo.弟弟和妹妹想去哪儿? (Dìdi hé mèimei dōu xiǎnɡ qù nǎr?) Where do the younger brother and the younger sister want to go?
我把车停在路边了。 (Wǒ bǎ chē tínɡ zài lùbiān le.)  I parked my car on the side of the road.你把车停在哪里了? (Nǐ bǎ chē tínɡ zài nǎlǐ le?) Where did you park your car?
衣服都放在床上了。 (Yīfu dōu fànɡzài chuánɡshanɡ le.) All clothes were put on the bed.衣服都放在什么地方了? (Yīfu dōu fànɡzài shénme dìfɑnɡ le?) Where are all the clothes?
这是当地最大的海鲜市场。 (Zhè shì dānɡdì zuì dà de hǎixiān shìchǎnɡ.) This is the biggest seafood market in the local area.这是什么地方? (Zhè shì shénme dìfɑnɡ?) Where is it?

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.

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
小明是中国人。 (Xiǎo Mínɡ shì Zhōnɡɡuó rén.) Xiao Ming is Chinese.小明是哪国人? (Xiǎo Mínɡ shì nǎ ɡuó rén?) Which nationality is Xiao Ming?
我想买那本蓝色的书。   (Wǒ xiǎnɡ mǎi nà běn lánsède shū.) I want to buy that blue book.你想买哪本书? (Nǐ xiǎnɡ mǎi nǎ běn shū?) Which book do you want to buy?
小华告诉我这个消息的。 (Shì Xiǎo Huá ɡàosu wǒ zhèɡe xiāoxi de.)  It’s Xiao Hua who told me the news.哪个人告诉你这个消息的? (Shì nǎ ɡè rén ɡàosu nǐ zhèɡe xiāoxi de?) Who told you the news?

5. 怎么– how

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

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
他要开车去学校。 (Tā yào kāi chē qù xuéxiào.) He wants to drive to school怎么去学校? (Tā zěnme qù xuéxiào?) How does he go to school?
每天坚持写汉字和练习听力。   (Wǒ měitiān jiānchí xiě Hànzì hé liànxí tīnɡlì.) I persist in writing Chinese characters and practicing my listening skills.怎么学习中文? (Nǐ zěnme xuéxí Zhōnɡwén?) How do you study Chinese?
我们是去年一起玩游戏时认识的。 (Wǒmen shì qùnián yìqǐ wán yóuxì shí rènshi de.)  We met last year playing a game together.你们是怎么认识的? (Nǐmen shì zěnme rènshi de?) How did you meet?

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.

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
最近工作还好,很顺利。 (Zuìjìn ɡōnɡzuò hái hǎo, hěn shùnlì.) .It’s going well recently.最近工作怎么样? (Zuìjìn ɡōnɡzuò zěnmeyànɡ?) How’s your work going recently?
这条裤子的颜色不好看。   (Zhè tiáo kùzi de yánsè bù hǎokàn.) The color of this pair of trousers is ugly.这条裤子怎么样? (Zhè tiáo kùzi zěnmeyànɡ?) What do you think about this pair of trousers?
很好,长得又高又帅。 (Tā hěn hǎo, zhǎnɡde yòu ɡāo yòu shuài.)  He is great, tall and handsome.你觉得他怎么样? (Nǐ juéde tā zěnmeyànɡ?) How do you feel about him?

7. 为什么– why

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

QuestionAnswer
为什么迟到了? (Nǐ wèishénme chídào le?) .Why are you late?路上堵车了。 (Lùshɑnɡ dǔ chē le.) Because of the traffic jam.
为什么会议取消了?   (Wèishénme huìyì qǔxiāo le?) Why is the meeting canceled?因为经理有其他重要的事,刚出去了。 (Yīnwèi jīnɡlǐ yǒu qítā zhònɡyàode shì, ɡānɡ chūqu le.) Because the manager left just now since there is another important thing.
为什么穿这么多衣服? (Nǐ wèishénme chuān zhème duō yīfu?)  Why do you wear so many clothes?我觉得很冷。 (Wǒ juéde hěn lěnɡ.) Because I feel very cold.

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.

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
我每天早上6起床。 (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshɑnɡ liù diǎn qǐchuánɡ.) I get up at 6 a.m. every day.你每天早上几点/什么时候起床? (Nǐ měitiān zǎoshɑnɡ jǐ diǎn / shénme shíhou qǐchuánɡ?) When do you get up every morning?
小华明天去云南出差。 (Xiǎo Huá mínɡtiān qù Yúnnán chūchāi.) Xiao Hua will go to Yunnan Province on a business trip tomorrow.小华什么时候去云南出差? (Xiǎo Huá shénme shíhou qù Yúnnán chūchāi?) When will Xiao Hua go on a business trip to Yunnan Province?
一个月后才回家。 (Tā yíɡe yuè hòu cái huíjiā.) He didn’t go back home until one month later.什么时候回家的? (Tā shénme shíhou huí jiā de?) When did he go back home?

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.

BackgroundWh- Question
If someone’s younger sister is about 5 years old, you can say:  你妹妹几岁了? (Nǐ mèimei jǐ suì le?) How old is your younger sister?
If you meet a teenager or someone who looks about same generation as you, you can say:你今年多大了? (Nǐ jīnnián duōdà le?) How old are you?

 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.

+measure word/noun

Declarative SentenceWh- Question
我想买本书。 (Wǒ xiǎnɡ mǎi sì běn shū.) I want to buy four books.你想买本书? (Nǐ xiǎnɡ mǎi jǐ běn shū?) How many books do you want to buy?
他们走路走了天。 (Tāmen zǒu lù zǒule sān tiān.) They have walked for three days.他们走路走了天? (Tāmen zǒu lù zǒule jǐ tiān?) How many days did they walk for?
这是5斤。 (Zhè shì wǔ jīn.) This is 5 jin.这是斤? (Zhè shì jǐ jīn?) How many jin is it?

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.

Declarative SentenceQuestion
我的电话号码是11118888。 (Wǒ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì yāo yāo yāo yāo bā bā bā bā.) My phone number is 11118888.你的电话号码是多少? (Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?) What’ s your phone number?
小华买了20只虾。 (Xiǎo Huá mǎile èrshí zhǐ xiā.) Xiao Hua bought twenty shrimp.小华买了多少只虾? (Xiǎo Huá mǎile duōshǎo zhǐ xiā?) How many shrimp did Xiao Hua buy?
这个班有48个人。 (Zhèɡe bān yǒu sìshí bā gè rén.) There are 48 students in this class.这个班有多少个人? (Zhèɡe bān yǒu duōshǎo gè rén?) How many students are there in this class?
18块。 (Shíbā kuài.) 18 kuai.一杯奶茶多少钱? (Yì bēi nǎichá duōshǎo qián?) How much is a cup of milk tea?

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.

Declarative SentenceQuestion
100平方米。 (Yì bǎi pínɡfānɡ mǐ.) 100 square meters.这个房子多大? (Zhèɡe fánɡzi duō dà?) How big is your house?
大概要三个小时。 (Dàɡài yào sān ɡè xiǎoshí.) Maybe three hours.电脑多久能修好? (Diànnǎo duō jiǔ nénɡ xiū hǎo?) How long will it take to repair the computer?
25公里,开车要1个小时。 (Yǒu èrshí wǔ ɡōnɡlǐ, kāi chē yào yí ɡè xiǎoshí.) It’s 25 km, taking one hour by car.你家离公司有多远? (Nǐ jiā lí ɡōnɡsī yǒu duō yuǎn?) How far is it from your home to the company?
188。 (Yì mǐ bā bā.) 188 centimeters.多高? (Nǐ duō ɡāo?) How tall are you?

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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Oksana Ermolaeva

Oxana Ermolaeva is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Russia. She loves studying new languages and cultures. Her special interest is Chinese language.

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