Wh-questions in Chinese: 什么, 谁, 哪, 怎么, 为什么, 多少, 几
Chinese question words stay where the answer would be. English moves "what" to the front, but Chinese keeps the statement order and swaps in the question word: 你吃什么？ (Nǐ chī shénme?) puts 什么 in the object slot. This page covers all 11 question forms of HSK 1 and 2.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 什么 | shénme | what | 1 | 你吃什么？ Nǐ chī shénme? What are you eating? |
| 谁 | shéi | who | 1 | 他是谁？ Tā shì shéi? Who is he? |
| 哪 | nǎ | which (before a measure word or noun) | 1 | 你是哪国人？ Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén? Which country are you from? |
| 哪儿 | nǎr | where | 1 | 你去哪儿？ Nǐ qù nǎr? Where are you going? |
| 什么时候 | shénme shíhou | when | 1 | 你什么时候回家？ Nǐ shénme shíhou huí jiā? When are you going home? |
| 怎么 | zěnme | how, in what way | 1 | 这个字怎么读？ Zhège zì zěnme dú? How do you read this character? |
| 为什么 | wèishénme | why | 2 | 你为什么学中文？ Nǐ wèishénme xué Zhōngwén? Why do you study Chinese? |
| 怎么样 | zěnmeyàng | how is it, how about it | 2 | 今天天气怎么样？ Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng? How is the weather today? |
| 多少 | duōshao | how many, how much (any quantity) | 1 | 这个多少钱？ Zhège duōshao qián? How much is this? |
| 几 | jǐ | how many (a small number, under about ten) | 1 | 现在几点？ Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? What time is it now? |
| 多 + adjective | duō | how (old, tall, far, long) | 2 | 你多大？ Nǐ duō dà? How old are you? |
The rule: replace, do not move
Write the statement first, then put the question word where the missing information goes. 他在北京工作 becomes 他在哪儿工作？. Time words behave the same way, but they go before the verb: 你什么时候来？, never after it. Do not add 吗.
Other ways to ask
When the answer is yes or no, use 吗, the verb-not-verb form or 还是. The same question words can also mean "any" or "every", as in 谁都知道 (everyone knows); that use is taught in Question words as non-questions.
Frequently asked questions
Does the question word move to the front in Chinese?
No. The question word takes the place of the answer. The statement 我吃面条 (I eat noodles) becomes the question 你吃什么？ with 什么 sitting exactly where 面条 was. There is no word order change and no 吗.
Can I add 吗 to a question with 什么 or 谁?
No. 吗 turns a statement into a yes/no question, and a question word already makes the sentence a question. 你吃什么吗？ is not a question about what you eat; it asks whether you are eating anything.
What is the difference between 几 and 多少?
几 asks about a small number and needs a measure word: 你有几个孩子？ 多少 asks about any quantity and the measure word is optional: 这个多少钱？ Use 多少 for prices, phone numbers and large amounts.
What is the difference between 怎么 and 怎么样?
怎么 asks how an action is done and comes before the verb: 这个字怎么读？ 怎么样 asks for an opinion or condition and comes at the end: 你的中文怎么样？ Said with surprise, 怎么 can also mean "why on earth", as in 你怎么没来？
What is the difference between 哪 and 哪儿?
哪 (nǎ) means "which" and is followed by a measure word or noun: 哪本书, 哪国人. 哪儿 (nǎr) means "where" and stands alone: 你在哪儿？ Both are written with the same character 哪; the 儿 makes it a place word.
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