LEARN + CHINESE / 69 of 300 HSK 2
Ask What, When, or Why例 · 我们明天见面
The usual question words—什么时候 (“when?”), 为什么 (“why?”), 怎么样 (“how is it?”)—fit into an ordinary sentence. If you’re making a suggestion, finish with 好吗 or 行吗 to check whether it suits the other person. And when everyone knows who you mean, noun + 呢 is a quick “what about…?”
我们明天见面，好吗？
wǒmen míngtiān jiànmiàn, hǎo ma?
Shall we meet tomorrow? Does that work?
你什么时候有空？
nǐ shénme shíhou yǒu kòng?
When are you free?
你为什么不吃早饭？
nǐ wèishénme bù chī zǎofàn?
Why don’t you eat breakfast?
你的朋友呢？
nǐ de péngyou ne?
What about your friend?
Hint · 힌트
吗 makes a neutral yes/no question. 好吗 asks whether a suggestion is okay. 呢 often points back to a person or thing already mentioned: 我很好，你呢？ (“I’m fine. How about you?”).
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
hǎo ma | is that okay? |
xíng ma | will that work? |
zěnmeyàng | how; how about |
shénme shíhou | when |
wèishénme | why |
zěnme | how; what |
ne | and…?; what about…? |
jiànmiàn | to meet |
míngtiān | tomorrow |
yǒu kòng | to be free; have time |
zǎofàn | breakfast |
péngyou | friend |
jīntiān | today |
xiànzài | now |
yǒu shíjiān | to have time |
kěyǐ | can; may |
fāngbiàn | convenient |
wèntí | question; problem |
zěnme le | what’s wrong? |
wèishénme ne | how come? |
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