Who, what, when, where, why, and how. These question words are also to
forming questions in Chinese. The important thing to remember is that
[word order](word_order "wikilink") is the same in Chinese for questions
and statements.

Overview
--------

### Common Question Words List

In English, question words are also known as *wh-words*, as the majority
of them begin with *wh*:

<div class="liju">
-   什么
    <span class="pinyin">shénme</span><span class="trans">what</span>
-   哪里 、 哪儿 <span class="pinyin">nǎlǐ,
    nǎr</span><span class="trans">where</span>
-   哪个<span class="pinyin">nǎge</span><span class="trans">which</span>
-   谁 <span class="expl">In spoken Chinese, people normally say "shéi,"
    not
    "shuí"</span><span class="pinyin">shéi</span><span class="trans">who</span>
-   什么时候 <span class="pinyin">shénme
    shíhou</span><span class="trans">when</span>
-   为什么
    <span class="pinyin">wèishénme</span><span class="trans">why</span>
-   怎么 <span class="pinyin">zěnme</span><span class="trans">how</span>
-   多少 <span class="pinyin">duōshao</span><span class="trans">how many
    / how much</span>

</div>
### Rules

In English, question words have to be placed at the beginning of the
sentence. This involves changing the [word order](word_order "wikilink")
to allow this rearrangement. In Chinese, using question words is a lot
simpler. You simply place a question word in the place of the thing you
want to ask about. *Nothing needs to be rearranged.*

So if the statement is

<div class="liju">
-   我 是 <em>小李</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì <em>Xiǎo
    Lǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">I am Xiao Li.</span>

</div>
the question form - "who are you?" - has the same word order:

<div class="liju">
-   你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì
    <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you? (you are
    who?)</span>

</div>
This works for whatever it is you want to ask about. The question form
has the same word order as the statement form.

Expressing "What" with 什么 (shénme)
------------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + Verb + 什么 + (Noun) ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 这 是
    <em>什么</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì
    <em>shénme</em>?</span><span class="trans">What is this?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>这 是 <em>我 的
    iPad</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ de
    iPad</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my iPad.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 喜欢 吃 <em>什么</em>
    菜？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ xǐhuan chī <em>shénme</em>
    cài?</span><span class="trans">What kind of food do you like?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 喜欢 吃 <em>中国
    菜</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ xǐhuan chī <em>Zhōngguó
    cài</em>.</span><span class="trans">I like Chinese food.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 用 <em>什么</em>
    手机？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yòng <em>shénme</em>
    shǒujī?</span><span class="trans">What kind of cell phone do you
    use?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 用
    <em>iPhone</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yòng
    <em>iPhone</em>.</span><span class="trans">I use an iPhone.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 在 看 <em>什么</em>
    书？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài kàn <em>shénme</em>
    shū?</span><span class="trans">What kind of book are you
    reading?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 在 看
    <em>小说</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài kàn
    <em>xiǎoshuō</em>.</span><span class="trans">I am reading a
    novel.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>他 开 <em>什么</em>
    车？<span class="pinyin">Tā kāi <em>shénme</em>
    chē?</span><span class="trans"> What kind of car does he
    drive?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>他 开
    <em>宝马</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Tā kāi
    <em>Bǎomǎ</em>.</span><span class="trans">He drives a BMW.</span>

</div>
Expressing "Where" with 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr)
------------------------------------------------

The words 哪里 (nǎlǐ) and 哪儿 (nǎr) mean the same thing. The difference
is simply regional preference: 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is preferred in the south
(Shanghai, Taiwan), whereas 哪儿 (nǎr) is preferred in the north
(Beijing, Xi'an).

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + Verb + 哪里 / 哪儿 ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 在
    <em>哪里</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài
    <em>nǎlǐ</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are you?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 在
    <em>家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài
    <em>jiā</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm at home.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 去
    <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào qù
    <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are you going
    now?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去
    <em>洗手间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù
    <em>xǐshǒujiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to the
    bathroom.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 在
    <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài
    <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are we?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 在
    <em>南京西路</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài <em>Nánjīng Xī
    Lù</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are at West Nanjing
    road.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 这 个 周末 你 想 去
    <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐ xiǎng qù
    <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where do you want to go this
    weekend?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 想 去
    <em>公园</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qù
    <em>gōngyuán</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the
    park.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 你好，你 要 去
    <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo, nǐ yào qù
    <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Hello, where do you want to
    go?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去
    <em>外滩</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù
    <em>Wàitān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the
    Bund.</span>

</div>
Expressing "Which" with 哪个 (nǎge)
-----------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+ Noun) ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要
    <em>哪个</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào
    <em>nǎge</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which one do you
    want?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要
    <em>这个</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào
    <em>zhège</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want this one.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 喜欢 <em>哪 个
    菜</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan <em>nǎge
    cài</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which dish do you like?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 喜欢 <em>这 个
    菜</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>zhège
    cài</em>.</span><span class="trans">I like this dish.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 <em>哪 个
    饭店</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǎge fàndiàn</em>?
    </span><span class="trans">Which restaurant are we going to? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 去 <em>你 妈妈 的
    饭店</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǐ māma de
    fàndiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are going to your mom's
    restaurant.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 在 <em>哪 个
    房间</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em>nǎge fángjiān</em>?
    </span><span class="trans">Which room are you in? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 在 <em>你 的
    房间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em> nǐ de
    fángjiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm in your room.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 住 在 <em>哪 个
    区</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù zài <em>nǎge qū</em>?
    </span><span class="trans">Which district do you live in? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 住 在 <em>静安
    区</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhù zài <em> Jìng'ān Qū
    </em>.</span><span class="trans">I live in Jing'an District.</span>

</div>
Expressing "Who" with 谁 (shéi)
-------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 是 + 谁 ?

</div>
<div class="jiegou">
谁 + Verb ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 是
    <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì
    <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 是 <em>他
    女朋友</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì <em>tā
    nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm his girlfriend.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>她 是
    <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Tā shì
    <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who is she?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>她 是
    <em>我的老师</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>wǒ de
    lǎoshī</em>.</span><span class="trans">She‘s my teacher.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 不 喜欢
    <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù xǐhuan
    <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who do you not like?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 不 喜欢 <em>我 的
    老板</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan <em>wǒ de
    lǎobǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't like my boss.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span><em>谁</em> 想
    去？<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi</em> xiǎng
    qù?</span><span class="trans">Who wants to go? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>我</em> 想
    去。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ</em> xiǎng
    qù.</span><span class="trans">I want to go.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span><em>谁</em> 想 喝
    咖啡？<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi</em> xiǎng hē
    kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Who wants to drink coffee?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>我</em> 想 喝
    咖啡。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ</em> xiǎng hē
    kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I want to drink coffee.</span>

</div>
Expressing "When" with 什么时候 (shénme shíhou)
-----------------------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 什么时候 + Predicate ?

</div>
Examples for asking and telling *when* (to keep things simple, we'll
just include questions about the future; asking questions about the past
can be slightly more complicated and may involve the ["shi... de"
construction](Using_the_"shi..._de"_construction "wikilink")).

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>什么时候</em> 来 ？
    <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shénme shíhou
    lái?</span><span class="trans">When are you coming?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>明天</em>
    来。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ míngtiān
    lái.</span><span class="trans">I'm coming tomorrow.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>什么时候</em>
    走？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shénme shíhou
    zǒu?</span><span class="trans">When are you guys leaving?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>下 个 月</em>
    走。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xià gè yuè
    zǒu.</span><span class="trans">We're leaving next month.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 <em>什么时候</em>
    吃饭？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen shénme shíhou
    chīfàn?</span><span class="trans">When are we eating?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>6 点</em>
    吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liù diǎn
    chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">We're eating at 6:00.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>爸爸 <em>什么时候</em>
    回来？<span class="pinyin">Bàba shénme shíhou
    huílái?</span><span class="trans">When is dad coming back?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>爸爸 <em>周末</em>
    回来。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zhōumò
    huílái.</span><span class="trans">Dad is coming back this
    weekend.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 的 飞机 <em>什么时候</em> 到
    上海？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de fēijī shénme shíhou dào
    Shànghǎi?</span><span class="trans">When is your airplane arriving
    in Shanghai?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>晚上
    八点</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǎnshang bā
    diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Eight o'clock this evening.</span>

</div>
Expressing "Why" with 为什么 (wèishénme)
----------------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 为什么 + Predicate ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>为什么</em> 学
    中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>wèishénme</em> xué
    Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">Why do you study Chinese?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 在 中国
    工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ zài Zhōngguó
    gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans"> Because I'm working in
    China.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>他们 <em>为什么</em> 不 喝
    咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>wèishénme</em> bù hē
    kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you drink coffee?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 咖啡 很
    苦。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> kāfēi hěn
    kǔ.</span><span class="trans">Because coffee is bitter.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>他 <em>为什么</em> 不
    来？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>wèishénme</em> bù
    lái?</span><span class="trans">Why isn't he coming?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 他 很
    忙。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tā hěn
    máng.</span><span class="trans">Because he is busy.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 早上 <em>为什么</em> 不
    在？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǎoshang <em>wèishénme</em> bù
    zài?</span><span class="trans">Why were you not here this morning?
    </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 出去 见 朋友
    了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ chūqù jiàn péngyou
    le.</span><span class="trans">Because I went out to meet some
    friends.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>这些 外国人 <em>为什么</em> 不 喜欢
    中国？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē wàiguó rén <em>wèishénme</em> bù
    xǐhuan Zhōngguó?</span><span class="trans">Why do these foreigners
    not like China? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 中国 人
    太多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> Zhōngguó rén tài
    duō.</span><span class="trans">Because China has a lot of
    people.</span>

</div>
Expressing "How" with 怎么 (zěnme)
----------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb (+ Obj.) ?

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 学习
    中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> xuéxí
    Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用
    <span class="spaced">Grammar Wiki</span></em> 学习 中文
    。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng Grammar Wiki</em> xuéxí
    Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">I use the Grammar Wiki to study
    Chinese.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em>
    上网？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em>
    shàngwǎng?</span><span class="trans">How do you go online?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用 手机</em>
    上网。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng shǒujī</em>
    shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">I use my cell phone to go
    online.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 去
    北京？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> qù
    Běijīng?</span><span class="trans">How do you go to Beijing? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>坐 火车</em>
    去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuò huǒchē</em>
    qù.</span><span class="trans">I take the train.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>怎么</em> 回家
    ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em>
    huíjiā?</span><span class="trans">How are you guys going to get
    home?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>开车</em>
    回家。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kāichē</em>
    huíjiā.</span><span class="trans">I‘m driving home.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 买 票
    ？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> mǎi
    piào?</span><span class="trans"> How do you buy tickets?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>上网</em> 买 票
    。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shàngwǎng</em> mǎi
    piào.</span><span class="trans">I go online to buy tickets.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Word order](Word_order "wikilink")
-   [Affirmative-negative
    questions](Affirmative-negative_questions "wikilink")
-   [Yes-no questions with "ma"](Yes-no_questions_with_"ma" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

-   [Basic Patterns of Chinese
    Grammar](Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar "wikilink") (p. 23)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    132-5)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (p.
    57)
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[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")
<Category:Dialogs>