{{Grammar Box}} The question particle 吗 (ma) is a simple way to form questions in Chinese. By placing 吗 (ma) on the end of a statement, you convert it into a ''yes/no question'' (questions that could be answered with "yes" or "no" in English). == Basic Usage == === Structure === Any statement can be converted into a yes/no question with 吗 (ma). You could think of 吗 (ma) as being like a question mark you say out loud. So the basic structure is:
[Statement] + 吗 ？
=== Examples ===
* 你 喜欢 咖啡 。 statementNǐ xǐhuan kāfēi.You like coffee.
The sentence "You like coffee" can easily be converted into the question "Do you like coffee?" by adding 吗 (ma):
*你 喜欢 咖啡 吗？ questionNǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?Do you like coffee?
More examples of statements and their yes/no question forms:
*你 是 大 学生。 statementNǐ shì dàxuéshēng.You are a college student. *你 是 大 学生 吗？ questionNǐ shì dàxuéshēng ma?Are you a college student? *他 是 老板。 statementTā shì lǎobǎn.He is the boss. *他 是 老板 吗 ？questionTā shì lǎobǎn ma?Is he the boss? *你 喜欢 她。 statement Nǐ xǐhuan tā.You like her. *你 喜欢 她 吗 ？ questionNǐ xǐhuan tā ma?Do you like her? *你 想 家。 statementNǐ xiǎng jiā.You miss home. *你 想 家 吗？ questionNǐ xiǎng jiā ma?Do you miss home? *爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶。 statementBàba xǐhuan hē chá.Dad likes drinking tea. *爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶 吗？ questionBàba xǐhuan hē chá ma?Does dad like drinking tea? *你们 也 去。 statementNǐmen yě qù.You also go. *你们 也 去 吗？ questionNǐmen yě qù ma?Are you also going? *他 在 你们 学校 学 中文。 statementTā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén.He studies Chinese in your school. *他 在 你们 学校 学 中文 吗 ？ questionTā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén ma?Does he study Chinese in your school? *我 见 过 他 。 statement Wǒ jiàn guo tā.I've met him. *我 见 过 他 吗？ questionWǒ jiàn guo tā ma?Have I met him? *妈妈 会 做饭。 statementMāma huì zuòfàn.Mom knows how to cook. *妈妈 会 做饭 吗？ questionMāma huì zuòfàn ma?Does mom know how to cook? *你 昨天 没 去 上班。 statementNǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān.You didn't go to work yesterday. *你 昨天 没 去 上班 吗 ？ questionNǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān ma?Did you not go to work yesterday?
It's important to remember that you do not normally add 吗 (ma) to a sentence that's ''already a question''. For example:
These would be something like "Are you who are you?" and "Is this is a book?" in English, both obviously ungrammatical. Still, if you're not careful, you may find yourself throwing a 吗 (ma) onto the end of a question that doesn't need it. Many learners make this mistake, so don't worry if it happens every once in a while, just catch it and remember it the next time. == More Advanced Usage == However, this doesn't mean that a sentence ''can't ever'' have a question word and 吗 (ma). If a sentence contains verbs of understanding such as 知道 (zhīdào),了解 (liǎojiě), 明白 (míngbai), 认识 (rènshi), etc., then 吗 (ma) can still be added at the end of the question. You will later learn more about these [[advanced yes-no questions with "ma"]]. ==See also== *[[Tag questions with "ma"]] *[[Affirmative-negative questions]] *[[Questions with "ne"]] == Sources and further reading == ===Videos=== * Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NT6in-ufGQ&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD Yes-no Questions with 吗] === Books === * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 138-40) [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 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 29-30)　[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 →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 21) [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 →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 23, 250) [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 →buy] [[Category:A1 grammar points]] {{Used for|Asking questions}} {{Used for|Requesting}} {{Basic Grammar|吗|A1|⋯⋯吗？|他 是 老板 吗 ?|grammar point|ASGQ2AZA}} {{Similar|Tag questions with ma}} {{Similar|Positive negative questions}} {{Similar|Questions with ne}} {{Similar|Questions with "le ma"}} {{Similar|Expressing the self-evident with "ma"}} {{Structure|Question Forms}}