Wh-Questions: 什么/谁/哪/怎么
A wh-question uses a question word in the very spot where the answer would go, so word order does not change. At HSK 1 the words are 什么 (what), 谁 (who), 哪 (which) and 怎么 (how).
| Word | Meaning | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 什么 | what | object position | 你吃什么？ |
| 谁 | who | subject or object | 谁是老师？ |
| 哪 | which | before noun | 哪个学生？ |
| 怎么 | how | before verb | 你怎么去？ |
Key rule: The sentence structure stays the same. Just swap the answer for the question word.
- 我吃饭。→ 你吃什么？
- 他是老师。→ 谁是老师？
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你吃什么？ | Nǐ chī shén me? | What do you eat? / What are you eating? | 什么 in object position, replacing the answer (饭/菜 etc.). |
| 谁是你的老师？ | Shuí shì nǐ de lǎo shī? | Who is your teacher? | 谁 in subject position. No inversion — structure is Subject + 是 + Noun. |
| 你怎么去学校？ | Nǐ zěn me qù xué xiào? | How do you go to school? | 怎么 comes before the verb 去, asking about manner. |
| 哪个是你的书？ | Nǎ gè shì nǐ de shū? | Which one is your book? | 哪 + measure word 个. Stays in the subject position. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
什么 (shén me)
Asks 'what', and it takes the place of the answer.
Structure: Subject + Verb + 什么 (+ Noun)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你周末做什么？ | Nǐ zhōu mò zuò shén me? | What do you do at the weekend? |
| 这是什么？ | Zhè shì shén me? | What is this? |
| 你想买什么颜色的鞋？ | Nǐ xiǎng mǎi shén me yán sè de xié? | What colour of shoes do you want to buy? |
Not: 什么你吃？ The question word stays where the answer would be: 你吃什么？
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, pronouns (疑问代词).
谁 (shéi)
Asks 'who', and works as subject or object.
Structure: 谁 + Verb / Verb + 谁
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 谁在门口？ | Shéi zài mén kǒu? | Who is at the door? |
| 这是谁的包？ | Zhè shì shéi de bāo? | Whose bag is this? |
| 你在和谁说话？ | Nǐ zài hé shéi shuō huà? | Who are you talking to? |
Not: 你找谁吗？ A question with a question word does not take 吗: 你找谁？
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, pronouns (疑问代词).
哪 (nǎ)
Asks 'which', and goes before a measure word and a noun.
Structure: 哪 + (Number) + Measure word + Noun
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你住在哪个城市？ | Nǐ zhù zài nǎ gè chéng shì? | Which city do you live in? |
| 哪本书是你的？ | Nǎ běn shū shì nǐ de? | Which book is yours? |
| 你是哪国人？ | Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? | Which country are you from? |
Not: 你喜欢哪？ 哪 needs a measure word and noun, as in 你喜欢哪个？
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, pronouns (疑问代词).
怎么 (zěn me)
Asks 'how' something is done, and goes before the verb.
Structure: Subject + 怎么 + Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 去火车站怎么走？ | Qù huǒ chē zhàn zěn me zǒu? | How do I get to the train station? |
| 这个字怎么读？ | Zhè ge zì zěn me dú? | How do you read this character? |
| 你怎么没来？ | Nǐ zěn me méi lái? | Why didn't you come? |
Not: 你怎么叫名字？ To ask a name use 什么: 你叫什么名字？
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, pronouns (疑问代词).
What this opens up
These patterns list Wh-Questions among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Wh-Questions
What does 特指问句 (Wh-Questions) mean in Chinese?
A wh-question uses a question word in the very spot where the answer would go, so word order does not change. At HSK 1 the words are 什么 (what), 谁 (who), 哪 (which) and 怎么 (how). It is an HSK 1 grammar point.
How do you use 特指问句 (Wh-Questions) in a sentence?
你吃什么？ — Nǐ chī shén me? — What do you eat? / What are you eating?. 什么 in object position, replacing the answer (饭/菜 etc.).
Where does 特指问句 (Wh-Questions) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 1, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 特指问句 (Wh-Questions) lead to?
Interrogative Pronouns (HSK 2), Question Words as Non-Questions (HSK 3). Each of them names 特指问句 (Wh-Questions) among its own prerequisites.
Do Chinese question words move to the front like in English?
No. They stay where the answer would be, so 你吃什么？ matches 我吃面。
How do I choose between 什么 and 哪?
什么 asks about a kind: 什么书 means 'what kind of book'. 哪 picks from a known group: 哪本书 means 'which book'.
Wh-Questions is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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