Yes/No Questions with 吗
用"吗"提问
Form yes/no questions by adding 吗
Take any statement in Chinese and add 吗 at the end — congratulations, you just made a yes/no question. The word order stays exactly the same.
Unlike English, you do NOT change the word order to form a question. "He is a teacher" → "He is a teacher 吗?" That's it!
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Yes/No Questions with 吗 (用"吗"提问)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 用"吗"提问 pattern
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Understanding 用"吗"提问
If you only learn ONE way to ask questions in Chinese, let it be this one. Take any statement — 他是老师 (He is a teacher). Add 吗. Done: 他是老师吗？(Is he a teacher?) No flipping words around, no auxiliary verbs, no rising intonation tricks. Just bolt 吗 onto the end. It's the simplest, most universal question-forming tool in Chinese, and it works with virtually any statement. Compare this to English, where you have to rearrange the whole sentence ("He is" → "Is he?"), add auxiliary verbs ("You like" → "Do you like?"), or change intonation. Chinese just adds one tiny syllable at the end and calls it a day. This is one of those moments where Chinese is genuinely easier than English!
Key Points
- Formation could not be simpler: Statement + 吗 = Question
- Word order stays EXACTLY the same — don't move anything
- Answer with the verb (positive) or 不/没 + verb (negative): 是 or 不是
- Don't use 吗 together with other question words (谁, 什么, 哪儿). Those already make the sentence a question
- Tone: 吗 is always neutral tone (ma, not mǎ or mā)
- 吗 questions slightly imply you expect a "yes." For truly neutral questions, A-not-A form is better
- Tag questions also use 吗: 你来，好吗？(You'll come, OK?). This softens a request.
- Don't confuse 吗 (ma, question) with 嘛 (ma, emphasis) or 妈 (mā, mother) — tone matters!
The most classic Chinese greeting is actually a 吗 question: 你吃了吗？(Have you eaten?) This isn't really about food — it's like saying "Hey, how are you?" The expected response is 吃了 (Yeah, I have) regardless of whether you actually ate.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
他是老师吗？
Is he a teacher?
这包子好吃吗？
Are these buns tasty?
你喜欢中国菜吗？
Do you like Chinese food?
明天你有时间吗？
Do you have time tomorrow?
A polite way to invite someone
你是中国人吗？
Are you Chinese?
你会说英语吗？
Can you speak English?
Very useful when traveling
这个药一天吃三次吗？
Do I take this medicine three times a day?
At the doctor or pharmacy
你们这里可以刷卡吗？
Can I pay by card here?
Essential shopping phrase
今晚你想出去吃吗？
Do you want to eat out tonight?
Inviting a friend
作业你做完了吗？
Have you finished your homework?
A question every student dreads
Common Mistakes
Never combine 吗 with question words like 谁, 什么, 哪儿, etc. The question word already makes the sentence a question. Adding 吗 is like asking a question twice.
吗 ALWAYS goes at the end of the sentence, never at the beginning. It's a sentence-final particle.
Don't change the word order! In English, "Is he a teacher?" flips "he is." In Chinese, keep the original order: 他是老师 + 吗.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The 吗 formula: make a statement you believe might be true, then add 吗 to check. Think of 吗 as a verbal question mark.
Answering 吗 questions: repeat the verb for yes (是, 有, 会, 喜欢), or add 不/没 for no (不是, 没有, 不会, 不喜欢). You don't need a word for "yes" or "no."
Pro tip: Chinese doesn't have a single word for "yes." Instead, you echo the verb: 你是学生吗？→ 是。(literally: "Am.") This feels strange at first but becomes natural quickly.
At restaurants, 吗 questions are your best tool: 有菜单吗？(Do you have a menu?), 可以打包吗？(Can I get a takeaway box?), 能用微信支付吗？(Can I use WeChat Pay?)
If a 吗 question feels too stiff or formal, switch to A-not-A form for a more casual vibe. 你忙吗？→ 你忙不忙？Both work, but the latter sounds chattier.
Homework
Write ten 吗 questions you might ask a new Chinese friend — about their job, family, hobbies, food preferences, etc. Then write the affirmative and negative answers for each. Practice until the pattern feels automatic.
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