1: 谁 (shéi) – who
You can use this question word to ask who people are.
Subject + 是 +谁? (To ask a question like, “who is that?” or “who is he/she?”)
and
谁 + Verb?
For example:
谁去？
shéi qù?
who is going?”
她是谁？
Tā shì shéi?
Who is she?
谁想和我一起去公园？
Shéi xiǎng hé wǒ yīqǐ qù gōngyuán?
Who wants to go to the park with me?
2:什么 (shén me) – what
This word can be used for objects, abstract words, actions and so on.
Subject + Verb + 什么 (+ Object)?
For example:
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiaò shen me ming zi?
What's your name?
你想买点儿什么？
Nǐ xiǎng mǎidiǎn er shénme?
What would you like to buy?
你想吃点儿什么？
Nǐ xiǎng chī diǎn er shénme?
What would you like to eat?
这是什么？
zhè shì shén me?
What is this?
你喜欢吃什么？
nǐ xǐ huān chī shén me?
What do you like to eat?
你开什么车？
nǐ kāi shén me chē?
What car do you drive?
3: 哪儿 / 哪里 (nǎr / nǎ lǐ) – where
哪儿 used in north of china. 那里 used in south of china.
For example:
你在哪里？
Nǐ zài nǎ lǐ?
Where are you?
你家在哪儿？
Nǐ jiā zài nǎr?
where is your home ?
妈妈，哥哥在哪里？
Māma, gēge zài nǎ lǐ？
Mom，where is my brother?
超级市场在哪儿？
Chāojí shìchǎng zài nǎ'er?
Where is the supermarket?
4: 哪个 (nǎ ge) – which
This word is the question word for that—那个 (nà gè)—and this—这个 (zhè gè)—which are probably the first words you learn when you go shopping in China.
Subject + Verb＋哪个 (+ Object)?
For example:
哪个饮料是你的？
Nǎge yǐnliào shì nǐ de?
Which drink is yours?
哪个手机比较好？
Nǎge shǒujī bǐjiào hǎo?
Which cell phone is better?
你要哪个?
nǐ yào nǎ ge?
Which do you want?
你是那国人？
Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
What is your nationality ?
你喜欢那个老师？
Nǐ xǐ huan nǎ he lǎu shì?
Which teacher do you like?
5: 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) – when
The basic structure for using 什么时候 is as follows:
Subject + 什么时候 + Verb?
For example:
你什么时候回家？
Nǐ shénme shíhòu huí jiā?
When are you coming home?
你什么时候走?
Nǐ shénme shíhòu zǒu?
What time do you go?
6: 为什么 (wèishénme) – why
This question word can be used alone to create a simple question or in a more complex structure like:
Subject +为什么 + Verb?
For example:
你为什么吸烟？
Nǐ wèishénme xīyān?
Why do you smoke?
他为什么不高兴?
Tā wèishéme bù gāoxìng?
Why is he not happy?
7: 怎么 (zěnme) – how
This question word expresses a surprise in the face of an event or situation, and can also have a value of disagreement.
Subject +怎么 + Verb + Object?
For example:
你怎么去北京？
Nǐ zěnme qù Běijīng?
How do you go to Beijing?
你怎么这样不懂事？
Nǐ zěnme zhèyàng bù dǒngshì?
How can you be so thoughtless?
你怎么不去上课？
nǐ zěn me bù qù shàng kè?
How can you not go to class?
8: 多少 (duōshǎo) – how many
This question word is used when asking about a certain amount that’s higher than ten.
For example :
多少钱?
duōshǎo qian
How much money?
这个房间有多少人？
Zhè ge fángjiān yǒu duōshǎo rén?
How many people are there in this room?
你们店里的wifi密码是多少？
Nǐmen diàn lǐ de wifi mìmǎ shì duōshǎo?
What is the wifi password in your store?
9 : 几 (jǐ) – how many
This question word whatsoever is used only for a small amount of objects, under ten, to be more specific.
For example :
现在几点?
Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?
What time is it now?
我已经给她打了好几个电话了。
Wǒ yǐjīng gěi tā dǎle hǎojǐ gè diànhuàle.
I have already called her several times.
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