The particle 呢 (ne) can be used to ask reciprocal questions, also known
as "bounce back" questions. 呢 (ne) can also be used to form simple
questions asking "what about...?" or "how about...?"

General Questions with 呢 (ne)
------------------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Topic + 呢 ？

</div>
And it's as simple as that. Say what you want to ask about, then stick
呢 (ne) on the end. A very common way to use this is to return a
question after being asked it. The classic example is this exchange:

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 好 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    hǎo ma?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 很 好。你 <em>呢</em>
    ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn hǎo. Nǐ <em>ne</em>?</span>
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 也 很 好
    。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yě hěn hǎo.</span>

</div>
### Examples

More 呢 (ne) examples (each of these can be translated as a "what about"
question):

<div class="liju">
-   这 个 很 好 ， 那 个 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège hěn
    hǎo, nàge <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">This one is good.
    What about that one?</span>
-   这 个 用 中文 怎么 说？那 个 <em>呢</em>
    ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō? Nàge
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">How do I say this in Chinese?
    And that?</span>
-   我 在 家，你 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài jiā. Nǐ
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I'm at home. What about
    you?</span>
-   你 爸爸 是 上海 人 ，你 妈妈 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    bàba shì Shànghǎi rén, nǐ māma
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Your father is Shanghainese.
    And your mom?</span>
-   你 哥哥 有 工作，弟弟 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ gēge
    yǒu gōngzuò. Dìdi <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Your big
    brother has a job. What about your little brother?</span>
-   北京 下雨 了 。 上海 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Běijīng
    xiàyǔ le. Shànghǎi <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">It's
    raining in Beijing. How about in Shanghai?</span>
-   我 现在 要 出去 。 你 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài
    yào chūqù. Nǐ <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I'm going to go
    out now. How about you?</span>
-   我 知道 你 会 说 中文 。 你 老公 <em>呢</em>
    ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhīdào nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén. Nǐ lǎogōng
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I know you can speak Chinese.
    What about your husband?</span>
-   这 个 周末 我 想 去 酒吧 。 你们<em>呢</em>
    ？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò wǒ xiǎng qù jiǔbā. Nǐmen
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">I want to go to a bar
    this weekend. What about you all?</span>
-   今天 晚上 没 空 ？ 明天 晚上<em>呢</em>
    ？<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǎnshang méi kòng? Míngtiān wǎnshang
    <em>ne</em>? </span><span class="trans">You don't have time tonight?
    What about tomorrow evening? </span>

</div>
Asking "Where" with 呢 (ne)
---------------------------

You'll occasionally hear someone seemingly using 呢 (ne) out of the
blue. When this happens, they're usually asking *where* someone or
something is, and they expect that you know what they're talking about
and know where that person or thing is.

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
\[Missing Person / Thing\] + 呢 ？

</div>
### Examples

This one is simple, so just a few examples are needed:

<div class="liju">
-   钱 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Qián
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where's the money?</span>
-   你 妈妈 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ māma
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where's your mom?</span>
-   我 的 手机 <em>呢</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de shǒujī
    <em>ne</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where's my cell phone?</span>

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

-   [Yes-no questions with "ma"](Yes-no_questions_with_"ma" "wikilink")
-   [Tag questions with "ma"](Tag_questions_with_"ma" "wikilink")
-   [Softening the tone of questions with
    "ne"](Softening_the_tone_of_questions_with_"ne" "wikilink")
    (advanced article)

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

### Books

-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    137)
    [→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)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    23-4)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
    Grammar](Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar "wikilink") (pp.
    300-7)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103)
-   [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") (pp.
    87-8)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader 1
    (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1)(2nd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    102-3, 251)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    97)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")
<Category:Dialogs> <Category:Particles>