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- {{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:
- <div class="jiegou">
- [Statement] + 吗 ？
- </div>
- === Examples ===
- <div class="liju">
- * 你 喜欢 咖啡 。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">You like coffee.</span>
- </div>
- The sentence "You like coffee" can easily be converted into the question "Do you like coffee?" by adding 吗 (ma):
- <div class="liju">
- *你 喜欢 咖啡 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you like coffee?</span>
- </div>
- More examples of statements and their yes/no question forms:
- <div class="liju">
- *你 是 大 学生。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì dàxuéshēng.</span><span class="trans">You are a college student.</span>
- *你 是 大 学生 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì dàxuéshēng <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Are you a college student?</span>
- *他 是 老板。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Tā shì lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">He is the boss.</span>
- *他 是 老板 <em>吗</em> ？<span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Tā shì lǎobǎn <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Is he the boss?</span>
- *你 喜欢 她。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin"> Nǐ xǐhuan tā.</span><span class="trans">You like her.</span>
- *你 喜欢 她 <em>吗</em> ？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan tā <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you like her?</span>
- *你 想 家。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng jiā.</span><span class="trans">You miss home.</span>
- *你 想 家 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng jiā <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Do you miss home?</span>
- *爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Bàba xǐhuan hē chá.</span><span class="trans">Dad likes drinking tea.</span>
- *爸爸 喜欢 喝 茶 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Bàba xǐhuan hē chá <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Does dad like drinking tea?</span>
- *你们 也 去。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yě qù.</span><span class="trans">You also go.</span>
- *你们 也 去 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yě qù <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Are you also going?</span>
- *他 在 你们 学校 学 中文。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Tā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">He studies Chinese in your school.</span>
- *他 在 你们 学校 学 中文 <em>吗</em> ？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Tā zài nǐmen xuéxiào xué Zhōngwén <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Does he study Chinese in your school?</span>
- *我 见 过 他 。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">I've met him.</span>
- *我 见 过 他 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiàn guo tā <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Have I met him?</span>
- *妈妈 会 做饭。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Māma huì zuòfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom knows how to cook.</span>
- *妈妈 会 做饭 <em>吗</em>？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Māma huì zuòfàn <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Does mom know how to cook?</span>
- *你 昨天 没 去 上班。 <span class="expl">statement</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">You didn't go to work yesterday.</span>
- *你 昨天 没 去 上班 <em>吗</em> ？ <span class="expl">question</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān méi qù shàngbān <em>ma</em>?</span><span class="trans">Did you not go to work yesterday?</span>
- </div>
- It's important to remember that you do not normally add 吗 (ma) to a sentence that's ''already a question''. For example:
- <div class="liju">
- <ul>
- <li class="x">你 是 谁 <em>吗</em>？<span class="expl">谁 is a question word</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì shéi <em>ma</em>?</span></li>
- <li class="x">这 是 不 是 书 <em>吗</em>？<span class="expl">是不是 is a question pattern</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè shì bu shì shū <em>ma</em>?</span></li>
- </ul>
- </div>
- 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 <em>吗</em> ?|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}}
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