Tag Questions: 好吗, 可以吗, 行吗, 怎么样
用"好吗、可以吗、行吗、怎么样"提问
Make suggestions and seek agreement by adding tag questions to statements
State your suggestion or plan first, then add a tag question at the end to ask for the listener is agreement or opinion. All four tags seek confirmation but differ in tone.
好吗 is the most neutral and common. 可以吗 asks about permission or feasibility. 行吗 is casual and direct. 怎么样 asks "how about it?" and invites discussion.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Tag Questions: 好吗, 可以吗, 行吗, 怎么样 (用"好吗、可以吗、行吗、怎么样"提问)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 用"好吗、可以吗、行吗、怎么样"提问 pattern
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Understanding 用"好吗、可以吗、行吗、怎么样"提问
These four tag questions are social lubricant in Chinese. Instead of bluntly telling someone what to do, you present your idea and then gently ask if they agree. 我们明天八点出发，好吗？sounds much better than 我们明天八点出发！The first invites cooperation; the second sounds bossy. Think of these tags as different flavors of "okay?" or "sound good?" 好吗 is the all-purpose tag — works in any situation. 可以吗 specifically asks "is this allowed / feasible?" — slightly more formal. 行吗 is the casual, colloquial version of 可以吗 — used between friends. 怎么样 is the most open-ended — it means "what do you think?" and invites more discussion. Master these and your Chinese will sound polite, collaborative, and socially aware.
Key Points
- 好吗 (hǎo ma) = "okay?" — neutral, all-purpose tag question.
- 可以吗 (kěyǐ ma) = "is that okay? / may I?" — asks about permission or feasibility.
- 行吗 (xíng ma) = "will that work?" — casual, colloquial.
- 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) = "how about it? / what do you think?" — invites opinion.
- All four follow the same pattern: statement first, then tag question.
- The speaker usually has a suggestion in mind and is seeking agreement.
- These are softer than direct commands and much more polite.
- You can answer with: 好/好的/行/可以/没问题 (all mean "sure/okay").
Chinese communication values harmony and consensus. Using tag questions shows you respect the other person is opinion rather than imposing your will. Even bosses often phrase requests as 你加个班，好吗？(Work overtime, okay?) rather than giving direct orders.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我们明天八点出发，好吗？
Let us leave at 8 tomorrow, okay?
你明天早点儿来，可以吗？
Can you come a bit earlier tomorrow, is that okay?
你的词典借我用用，行吗？
Lend me your dictionary for a bit, will that work?
Casual tone between friends
我们今天吃面条儿，怎么样？
Let us have noodles today, what do you think?
周末去爬山，好吗？
Go hiking this weekend, okay?
我用一下你的电脑，可以吗？
May I use your computer for a moment?
咱们坐地铁去，行吗？
Let us take the subway, okay?
我们去公园散步，怎么样？
How about we go for a walk in the park?
Common Mistakes
Tag questions always go at the END of the statement, not the beginning.
The tag question is 怎么样, not 怎么. 怎么 means "how" (method), while 怎么样 means "how about it" (opinion).
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Default to 好吗 when you are not sure which tag to use — it works everywhere.
Use 行吗 with friends for a casual, easygoing tone.
Use 怎么样 when you genuinely want the other person is opinion, not just agreement.
Practice making daily suggestions: 我们去吃饭，好吗？我们走吧，行吗？
Homework
Write eight suggestions for weekend activities, using each tag question (好吗, 可以吗, 行吗, 怎么样) twice. For example: 我们去看电影，好吗？