The most common Chinese Question Words (Part 1)

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Starting a new language, we often learn basic words like “hello,” “good morning,” or “My name is.” Soon, you can answer questions in Chinese. But how about asking your own? That’s important too!

In this post, we’ll go over the top ten Chinese question words. 

A yes/no question marker – 吗

The compound character 吗 (ma) combines 口 (mouth) and 马 (horse). Turning a statement into a question in Chinese can be as simple as adding 吗 at the end, making it a beginner’s favorite. Remember to pronounce 吗 with a neutral tone, keeping it light and gentle.

Example: Can you speak English? 你会说英语吗？(nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma)

What – 什么

The character 什 (shén) already hints at the meaning “what,” but it’s rarely if ever, used solo. Combining it with 么, pronounced in a neutral tone, makes it sound complete and gives us the commonly used “什么.” In contrast to English, where WH- questions typically start the sentence, the Chinese WH- questions are often placed at the end.

Example: What is this? 这是什么？(zhè shì shénme)

Why – 为什么

The question word for “why” 为什么 (wèi shén me) extends from the earlier discussed 什么 (shén me). In this context, 为 (wèi) represents 因为 (yīn wèi), which means “because.” So, if we break it down, 为什么 literally translates to “because what,” echoing the English “why.”

Unlike 什么, which usually sits at the end of a sentence, 为什么 is often placed after the subject when asking for reasons. However, by placing 为什么 before the subject, the emphasis shifts to the subject itself.

Example: Why are you learning English? 你为什么学英语？(nǐ wèishénme xué yīngyǔ)

When – 什么时候

The Chinese word for “when” is 什么时候 (shénmeshíhòu). You’re already familiar with 什么 (shénme), meaning “what.” Coupled with 时候 (shíhòu), which translates to “period” or “time,” the combined phrase 什么时候 literally means “what period” or “what time.”

For asking about a specific time, like “what time is it?”, switch to 几点 (jǐ diǎn), meaning “how many o’clock.” This elicits precise times, such as 五点十分 (5:10), rather than broader time frames like 下个星期 (xià ge xīngqí; next week) or 明天 (míngtiān; tomorrow).

Typically, 什么时候 queries broader times or durations, like dates or times of day (e.g., morning, afternoon).

Example: When are you going abroad? 你什么时候出国？(nǐ shénmeshíhòu chū guó)

Which – 哪

The compound character 哪 (nǎ) is the combination of 口 (mouth) and 那 (that). Instead of standing alone, 哪 is frequently paired with a measure word followed by a noun, creating a complete query. Examples include 哪本书 (nǎ + běn + book, translating to “which book”) and 哪个公司 (nǎ + ge + company, translating to “which company”).

The noun after the measure word can be skipped when the context is clear. For instance, 哪个 (nǎ + ge) becomes “which one,” while 哪位 (nǎ + wèi) means “which person.”

Example: Which one do you want? 你要哪个？(nǐ yào nǎ ge)

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