Interrogative Particles "吗", "呢" and "吧"
Chinese Interrogative Words Part II
In the previous article of the Interrogative Words series, you've learned some commonly used interrogative pronouns which can be used alone, in the middle, or at the back of a sentence to form a question. To recap, they are:
几(jǐ)
多(duō)
多少(duō shǎo)
怎么(zěn me)
怎么样(zěn me yàng)
哪儿(nǎ er) or 哪里(nǎ lǐ)
为什么(wèi shén me)
In this article, we will cover three common and important interrogative particles that are usually seen at the back of a sentence. They are "吗(ma)", "呢(ne)" and "吧(ba)" which can all turn a declarative sentence into a question. However, each serves a different purpose. Let's find out their differences below.
吗(ma)
When "吗" appears at the back of a sentence, it turns a declarative sentence into a question. Once "吗" is added to the declaration sentence of "你是学生。(nǐ shì xué shēng。 You're a student.)", it will become a question of "你是学生吗？(nǐ shì xué shēng ma? Are you a student?)". Let's look at a few more examples below:
Declarative: 晚上有讲座。(Wǎn shàng yǒu jiǎng zuò. There is a lecture at night.)
Interrogative: 晚上有讲座吗？(wǎn shàng yǒu jiǎng zuò ma? Is there a lecture at night?)
Declarative: 他明天会来。(Tā míng tiān huì lái. He will come tomorrow.)
Interrogative: 他明天会来吗？(Tā míng tiān huì lái ma? Will he come tomorrow?)
Declarative: 王明下个礼拜去英国。(Wáng míng xià gè lǐ bài qù yīng guó. Wang Ming is going to the UK next week.)
Interrogative: 王明下个礼拜去英国吗？(Wáng míng xià gè lǐ bài qù yīng guó ma? Is Wang Ming going to the UK next week?)
Have you spotted the pattern? Although "吗" seems to serve as a symbol of a question mark, it should not be used indiscriminately. Usually, when you have "吗" at the end, the answer should either agree or negate the verb used in the question.
Also, if you have a verb phrase in the 'ABA' form such as "有没有？(yǒu méi yǒu, have or not have)" or "吃不吃(chī bù chī, eat or don't eat)", it will automatically make a sentence interrogative. You don't have to add "吗" at the back to indicate that it's a question.
Sometimes, in text messages or in daily conversations, you might see or hear "么(me)" at the end of an interrogative sentence. For example, "你吃了么？(nǐ chī le me? Have you eaten?)". The particle "么(me)" serves as an informal alternative of "吗(ma)". So, do use them appropriately in a different context.
呢(ne)
Similar to "吗", "呢(ne)" is used at the back of an interrogative sentence. However, it is used in bounce-back questions, directing the previously mentioned topic back to the other party. It is usually placed after a noun or pronoun and at the back of a sentence in the pattern of "X......。Y呢？", just like in English we say "X...... What about Y?". Therefore, it functions like the English phrase "what about?" in a sentence. Let's look at some examples below:
他不是美国人，他是英国人。你呢？
Tā bú shì měi guó rén, tā shì yīng guó rén. Nǐ ne?
He's not American, he's British. What about you?
我喜欢猫，你呢？
Wǒ xǐ huān māo, nǐ ne?
I like cat, what about you?
听说你喜欢跑步，那你妹妹呢？
Tīng shuō nǐ xǐ huān pǎo bù, nà nǐ mèi mei ne?
I heard that you like jogging, what about your sister?
Apart from using it in bounce-back questions, the "呢" particle is also used in questions that ask about the location of an item or a person. Let's look at some examples below:
我的手机呢？
Wǒ de shǒu jī ne?
你新买的杯子呢？
Nǐ xīn mǎi de bēi zi ne?
那只猫在哪呢？
Nà zhī māo zài nǎ ne?
Usually, sentences end with "吗" is a question. However, do take note that not all sentences that end with "呢" are questions because it also has other functions such as:
Marker of a declarative sentence:
电影开始了，他还没来呢！
Diàn yǐng kāi shǐ le, tā hái méi lái ne!
The movie has started, he hasn't come yet!
Indicate the continuation of an action or a state:
我听着呢。
Wǒ tīng zhe ne.
I'm listening.
Mark a pause in a sentence
如果你想来呢，要提前通知我一声。
Rú guǒ nǐ xiǎng lái ne, yào tí qián tōng zhī wǒ yì shēng.
If you want to come, let me know in advance.
吧(ba)
Not all sentences that end with "吧(ba)" is a question, but it is sometimes used to form question tags that turn a sentence into a question. "吧(ba)" can be added at the back of a sentence when the speaker assumes what he/she said is correct but wants to confirm with the other party:
我们一起去逛街吧？
Wǒ men yì qǐ qù guàng jiē ba?
Let's go shopping together, shall we?
晚餐我们吃中国菜吧？
Wǎn cān wǒ men chī zhōng guó cài ba?
Shall we have Chinese food for dinner?
Below are some common short phrases used in situations where the speaker is asking for confirmation of an assumption, or when asking for consent or permission to do something:
Used to ask for confirmation: 是吧？(Shì ba? right?) or 对吧？(Duì ba? correct?)
你下个月要去英国，是吧？
你下个月要去英国，对吧？
Nǐ xià gè yuè yào qù yīng guó, shì ba (or duì ba)?
You are going to the UK next month, right? (or correct?)
Used to ask for permission: 可以吧？(kě yǐ ba？okay?)
妈妈，我玩一会儿游戏，可以吧？
Mā ma, wǒ wán yī huǐ er yóu xì, kě yǐ ba?
Mom, I will play the game for a while, okay?
In this post, you've learned three common interrogative particles used to form questions in Chinese. If you are currently learning the HSK syllabus, read, like, and share this article to recap and reinforce your learning! If you want to learn more about Chinese grammar and vocabulary, sign up for our Chinese classes and have fun learning Chinese in Singapore. Stay tuned to our blog to learn more about Chinese. See you!