ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-42.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 
We have seen before that 吧 can be used to [[Softening speech with "ba"|soften the tone of statements]],  or [[Suggestions with ba|make commands feel more like suggestions]]. 呢 works in same way, but it is used to make questions more indirect and uncertain in tone. 

==呢 used successively with 还是==

呢 can be used successively in questions using 还是.

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">
Option 1 + 呢 + 还是 + Option 2 + 呢？
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">
* 我 去 缅甸 <em>呢</em>，<em>还是</em> 泰国<em>呢</em>？我 得 想 一 想！<span class="trans">Should I go to Myanmar or Thailand? I have to think a bit!</span>
* 咱们 打 电脑 游戏 <em>呢</em>，<em>还是</em> 跟 朋友 去 泡 酒吧<em>呢</em>，我 都 可以！<span class="trans">Should we play computer games or go to the bar? I can do either!</span>
</div>

The example sentences above almost have a tone that the speaker is talking to him/herself, as the question is not directly asked at the listener. A second verb is only necessary if different to the first verb.

==呢 with questions involving interrogative pronouns (哪儿，谁，怎么，什么 etc.)==

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">
⋯⋯Interrogative Pronoun⋯⋯ + 呢？
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">
* 这 是 谁 的 笔<em>呢</em>?<span class="trans">I wonder whose pen this is.</span>
* 他 去 哪儿 <em>了 呢</em>？<span class="trans">I wonder where he's going?</span>
* 怎么 会<em>呢</em>？<span class="trans">How could that be?</span>
</div>

In the previous example, the speaker has a tone of conjecture, a bit like saying "I wonder" in English. Again, as in the first example, the question is not directly asked at the listener. Adding 呢 to 怎么会 as in the last example sentence can sound a bit feminine; overusing 呢 can have this result.

==呢 with "verb 不 verb" questions==
If a "verb 不 verb" question is posed without 呢, it can appear as though the speaker is a bit impatient, or is ordering the listener to do something. This of course depends on the tone of voice used. Adding 呢 can give a tone of uncertainty, and is more polite.

===Structure===

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + Verb 1 + 不 + Verb 1 + (Verb 2) + 呢？
</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">
* 你 去 不 去 逛街？<span class="expl">Said as though demanding an answer, potentially in a hurry.</span><span class="trans">Well are you going to go shopping or what?</span>
* 你 去 不 去 逛街<em>呢</em>？<span class="expl">Less intense, just asking a question.</span><span class="trans">Are you going to go shopping?</span>
* 牛奶 你 喝 不 喝？<span class="expl">Said to a child, with the implication that if the milk isn't drunk, there will be consequences, with emphasis placed on 喝</span><span class="trans">Did you drink the milk or not?</span>
* 牛奶你喝不喝<em>呢</em>？<span class="expl">Perhaps said to a friend, with no implication of coercion. Perhaps you want to clear away their cup.</span><span class="trans">Did you drink the milk?</span>
* 你周末能不能加班？<span class="expl">Perhaps a manager asking a subordinate. This is not too direct, as 能 has been added. Saying 你加不加班 would seem more like an order</span><span class="trans">Can you come into work on the weekend?</span>
* 你周末能不能加班<em>呢</em>？<span class="expl">Much more indirect than the above example.</span><span class="trans">Would you mind coming in on the weekend?")</span>
</div>

Again, the meaning of the above sentences depends on context, and the interpretations given are just examples.

==See also==
* [[Interrogative pronouns]]
* [[Questions with "ne"]]
* [[Sentence-final interjection "a"]]

== Sources and further reading ==
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp.139-41) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
[[Category: Particles]]
{{Basic Grammar|呢|B2|⋯⋯呢？|他 人 在 哪 <em>呢</em> ？|grammar point|ASGW7YXP}}
{{Similar|Interrogative pronouns}}
{{Similar|Questions with ne}}
{{Similar|Sentence-final interjection "a"}}
{{Similar|Softening speech with "ba"}}
{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{POS|Particles}}