Information Questions
用疑问代词提问
Ask for specific information
In Chinese wh-questions, the question word (谁, 什么, 哪儿, etc.) sits exactly where the answer would be. The sentence order does NOT change.
This is the opposite of English, where "what" and "who" jump to the front of the sentence. In Chinese, they stay put.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Information Questions (用疑问代词提问)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 用疑问代词提问 pattern
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Understanding 用疑问代词提问
Here's a mind-bending difference from English: Chinese question words DON'T move to the front of the sentence. In English, "What did you buy?" pulls "what" to the front. In Chinese, you say 你买了什么？— literally "You bought what?" The question word sits right where the answer would go. If the answer is 我买了苹果 (I bought apples), then the question just swaps 苹果 for 什么. It's like a fill-in-the-blank quiz — the question word IS the blank. This is actually a huge advantage once you get used to it, because you only need to learn one sentence structure — the same one works for both statements and questions. No word-order gymnastics needed!
Key Points
- 谁 (shéi) = who — 他是谁？(Who is he?)
- 什么 (shénme) = what — 你吃什么？(What are you eating?)
- 哪儿/哪里 (nǎr/nǎlǐ) = where — 你住哪儿？(Where do you live?)
- 多少 (duōshao) = how many/much — 这个多少钱？(How much is this?)
- 几 (jǐ) = how many (small numbers, with measure word) — 你几岁？(How old are you?)
- 怎么 (zěnme) = how — 这个字怎么写？(How do you write this character?)
- Key rule: the question word replaces the answer in the SAME position
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) = when — 你什么时候来？(When are you coming?)
- 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) = how is it? / what's it like? — 这部电影怎么样？(How is this movie?)
In Chinese culture, asking 你几岁？(How old are you?) is normal and not considered rude among peers. However, for older people, use the polite form 您多大年纪？And asking someone's age in a business context is common — age often determines how you address someone.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
车上有多少个人？
How many people are on the bus?
你去哪里了？
Where did you go?
Question word in place of the destination
这个字怎么读？
How do you read this character?
谁教你中文？
Who teaches you Chinese?
谁 replaces the person — stays in subject position
你为什么学中文？
Why are you learning Chinese?
你家有几口人？
How many people are in your family?
几 is used for small expected numbers (under 10)
洗手间在哪里？
Where is the restroom?
Absolutely essential when traveling!
这道菜怎么做？
How do you make this dish?
Great conversation starter at a restaurant
你们几点下班？
What time do you get off work?
Work scenario — 几 for clock time (1-12)
这部电影怎么样？
How is this movie?
Asking for opinions
Common Mistakes
Don't move the question word to the front like in English. 什么 stays where the answer would go — after 看 (the object position).
Use 几 (not 多少) when you expect a small number (under 10) and when using a measure word. Most families have fewer than 10 people, so 几 is appropriate.
The question word goes in the answer position. If the answer is 我住北京 (I live in Beijing), the question swaps 北京 for 哪里: 你住哪里？
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The swap trick: write the answer first, then swap the unknown part with a question word. 我买了苹果 → 你买了什么？Just replace and done.
几 vs. 多少: use 几 for small, expected numbers (几个人? — a few people?) and 多少 for larger or unknown ranges (多少钱? — how much money?).
Never add 吗 to a sentence that already has a question word. 谁, 什么, 哪儿, etc. already make the sentence a question. Adding 吗 is double-questioning.
The survival trio for traveling in China: 洗手间在哪里？(Where's the restroom?), 这个多少钱？(How much is this?), 怎么去…？(How do I get to...?). Memorize these first!
Use 怎么样 to ask for opinions: 今天怎么样？(How was today?), 那个餐厅怎么样？(How's that restaurant?). It's the Chinese "How is...?" for any situation.
Homework
Write a dialogue where you meet a new classmate and ask them six questions: their name (什么), their nationality (哪), their age (几/多大), where they live (哪儿), what they like to eat (什么), and why they're studying Chinese (为什么). Write their answers too.