Chinese Question Words
One of the way to ask questions is by using the question words in Chinese.
Where do we place the question words in Chinese questions?
The question words are simply placed in the position where the ‘information’ is located. In other words, the word orders for both question and answer in Chinese are the same. All we need to do is only substituting the ‘information’ with the ‘question words’ without any further rearrangements.
Let’s see what is in the list of essential Chinese question words!
Structure:
Subject + 是 + 誰？
誰 + Verb Phrase ?
他是誰？
他是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is he?
他是我的哥哥。
他是我的哥哥。
Tā shì wǒ dí gēgē.
He is my brother.
誰要回家？
谁要回家？
Shéi yào huí jiā?
Who wants to go home?
我要回家。
我要回家。
Wǒ yào huí jiā.
I want to go home.
Structure: Subject + Verb + 什麼 + Object ？
這是什麼？
这是什么？
Zhè shì shén me?
What is this?
這是巧克力餅乾。
这是巧克力饼干。
Zhè shì qiǎokèlì bǐnggān.
This is a chocolate cookie.
那是什麼店?
那是什么店?
Nà shì shénme diàn?
What is that store?
那是花店。
那是花店。
Nà shì huā diàn.
That is a flower shop.
Literally meaning: 什么 ‘what’ 时候 ‘time’ – what time
Structure: Subject + 什麼時候 + Verb Phrase ?
你什麼時候去雅加達？
你什么时候去雅加达？
Nǐ shénme shíhòu qù yǎjiādá?
When are you going to Jakarta?
我下週去雅加達。
我下周去雅加达。
Wǒ xià zhōu yào qù yǎjiādá.
I’m going to Jakarta next week.
李先生什麼時候回中國？
李先生什么时候回中国？
Lǐ xiānshēng shénme shíhòu huí zhōngguó?
When will Mr. Li return to China?
李先生明天回中國。
李先生明天回中国。
Lǐ xiānshēng míngtiān huí zhōngguó.
Mr. Li will return to China tomorrow.
Literally meaning: 為 ‘for’ 什麼 ‘what’ – for what, for what reason
為什麼 (wèi shén me) is the only question words that has a special word order. Just like English, we use ‘because’ to answer a ‘why’ question. In Chinese, we use 因為 (yīn wèi) in the beginning of the sentence to express ‘because’.
Question Structure: Subject + 為什麼 ?
Answer Structure: 因為 + Subject
你為什麼昨天沒上班？
你为什么昨天没上班？
Nǐ wèishéme zuótiān méi shàngbān?
Why didn’t you go to work yesterday?
因為我昨天生病了。
因为我昨天生病了。
Yīnwèi wǒ zuótiān shēngbìngle.
Because I was sick yesterday.
媽媽為什麼很高興？
妈妈为什么很高兴？
Māmā wèishéme hěn gāoxìng?
Why is mom happy?
因為她中了彩票。
因为她中了彩票。
Yīnwèi tā zhōngle cǎipiào.
Because she won the lottery.
哪裡 (nǎ li) and 哪兒 (nǎ’er) are translated as ‘where’. You will find more people using 哪裡 (nǎ li) in Southern China, while 哪兒 (nǎ’er) is more used in Northern China.
Structure: Subject + Verb + 哪裡 or 哪兒 ?
你昨天去了哪裡？
你昨天去了哪里？
Nǐ zuótiān qùle nǎlǐ?
Where did you go yesterday?
我昨天去了動物園。
我昨天去了动物园。
Wǒ zuótiān qùle dòngwùyuán.
I went to the zoo yesterday.
你住在哪兒？
你住在哪儿？
Nǐ zhù zài nǎ’er?
Where do you live?
我住在學校宿舍。
我住在学校宿舍。
Wǒ zhù zài xuéxiào sùshè.
I live in a school dormitory.
Structure: Subject + 怎麼 + Verb Phrase ?
你怎麼回家？
你怎么回家？
Nǐ zěnme huí jiā?
How do you go home?
我開車回家。
我开车回家。
Wǒ kāichē huí jiā.
I go home by driving a car.
你們怎麼去澳大利亞？
你们怎么去澳大利亚？
Nǐmen zěnme qù àodàlìyǎ?
How do you go to Australia?
我們坐飛機去。
我们坐飞机去。
Wǒmen zuò fēijī qù.
We are going there by plane.
Literally meaning: 多 ‘much’ 少 ‘less’
Structure: Subject + Verb + 多少 ?
你要多少個？
你要多少个？
Nǐ yào duōshǎo gè?
How many do you want?
我要三十六個。
我要三十六个。
Wǒ yào sānshíliù gè.
I want 36 pieces.
這個蛋糕多少錢？
这个蛋糕多少钱？
Zhège dàngāo duōshǎo qián?
How much is this cake?
這個蛋糕八十元。
这个蛋糕八十元。
Zhège dàngāo bāshí yuán.
This cake is 80 yuan.
Structure: Subject + Verb + 哪個 ?
你想要哪個？
你想要哪个？
Nǐ xiǎng yào nǎge?
Which one do you want?
我想要那個白色的。
我想要那个白色的。
Wǒ xiǎng yào nàgè báisè de.
I want that white one.
你喜歡看哪個國家的電視劇?
你喜欢看哪个国家的电视剧？
Nǐ xǐhuān kàn nǎge guójiā de diànshìjù?
Which country’s TV series do you like to watch?
我喜歡看韓劇。
我喜欢看韩剧。
Wǒ xǐhuān kàn hánjù.
I like to watch Korean dramas.
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