Yes/No Questions with 吗
吗 (ma) turns a statement into a yes/no question when it is added to the end, with no change in word order: 你是学生 becomes 你是学生吗. The answer repeats the verb or says 不.
Forming questions:
- 你是学生。→ 你是学生吗？
- 他有书。→ 他有书吗？
- 她好。→ 她好吗？
Answering 吗 questions:
| Answer | Method | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Repeat the main verb | 是。/ 有。/ 好。 |
| No | 不 + verb | 不是。/ 没有。 |
Important: Chinese does not use a single word for 'yes' or 'no'. Echo the verb of the question.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 你是老师吗？ | Nǐ shì lǎo shī ma? | Are you a teacher? | Statement 你是老师 + 吗 = yes/no question. No word order change. |
| 是，我是老师。 | Shì, wǒ shì lǎo shī. | Yes, I am a teacher. | Affirmative: echo the verb 是. |
| 不是，我是学生。 | Bù shì, wǒ shì xué shēng. | No, I am a student. | Negative: 不是 = am not. Then give the correct information. |
| 你吃饭了吗？ | Nǐ chī fàn le ma? | Have you eaten? | 了 marks completion. Adding 吗 asks about it. Answer: 吃了 / 没有. |
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.
吗 (ma)
Added to the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question, with no change of word order.
Structure: Statement + 吗？
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你喜欢吃中国菜吗？ | Nǐ xǐ huan chī Zhōng guó cài ma? | Do you like Chinese food? |
| 你妈妈在家吗？ | Nǐ mā ma zài jiā ma? | Is your mother at home? |
| 这是你的手机吗？ | Zhè shì nǐ de shǒu jī ma? | Is this your phone? |
Not: 你是不是老师吗？ 吗 cannot be combined with an A-not-A question; use one or the other.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, particles (语气助词).
What this opens up
These patterns list Yes/No Questions with 吗 among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Yes/No Questions with 吗
What does 是非问句 (Yes/No Questions with 吗) mean in Chinese?
吗 (ma) turns a statement into a yes/no question when it is added to the end, with no change in word order: 你是学生 becomes 你是学生吗. The answer repeats the verb or says 不. It is an HSK 1 grammar point.
How do you use 是非问句 (Yes/No Questions with 吗) in a sentence?
你是老师吗？ — Nǐ shì lǎo shī ma? — Are you a teacher?. Statement 你是老师 + 吗 = yes/no question. No word order change.
Where does 是非问句 (Yes/No Questions with 吗) 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 是非问句 (Yes/No Questions with 吗) lead to?
Affirmative-Negative Questions (HSK 1), Choice Questions with 还是 (HSK 1), Question Methods (HSK 2), Sentence-final Particles (HSK 2). Each of them names 是非问句 (Yes/No Questions with 吗) among its own prerequisites.
How do I answer a 吗 question in Chinese?
Repeat the verb: 你是老师吗？ is answered 是 or 不是. For 有 the no is 没有. There is no single word for 'yes' or 'no'.
Can I use 吗 in a question with 什么 or 谁?
No. A question that already has a question word does not take 吗. 你叫什么名字？ is complete without it.
Yes/No Questions with 吗 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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