Question Words in Chinese

Overview

Chinese question words (疑问词, yíwèncí) include 什么 (what), 谁 (who), 哪里 (where), 什么时候 (when), 怎么 (how), and 为什么 (why). Unlike English, Chinese question words stay in the position where the answer would go -- there is no movement to the front of the sentence. This is called "in-situ" questioning.

At the CEFR A1 level, this pattern is both easier and more logical than English question formation. To ask "What did you buy?", simply replace the object with the question word: 你买了什么？ (You bought what?). The word order remains identical to the statement form.

This means that once you know how to form a statement, you can form any question simply by swapping in the appropriate question word. No auxiliary verbs, no inversion, no special syntax needed.

How It Works

Question word	Pinyin	Meaning	Position
什么	shénme	what	replaces the thing
谁	shéi / shuí	who	replaces the person
哪里 / 哪儿	nǎlǐ / nǎr	where	replaces the place
什么时候	shénme shíhòu	when	replaces the time
怎么	zěnme	how	before the verb
为什么	wèi shénme	why	before the verb
几	jǐ	how many (small)	before measure word
多少	duōshǎo	how many/much	before noun or MW
哪	nǎ	which	before measure word + noun

In-situ pattern

Statement	Question	Translation
他买了书。	他买了什么？	What did he buy?
他去北京。	他去哪儿？	Where is he going?
他是老师。	他是谁？	Who is he?
他明天来。	他什么时候来？	When is he coming?

Key rule: Question words replace the answer in the exact same position. Do NOT add 吗 to question-word questions.

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
这是什么？	Zhè shì shénme?	What is this?	什么 replaces object
你去哪儿？	Nǐ qù nǎr?	Where are you going?	哪儿 replaces place
他是谁？	Tā shì shéi?	Who is he?	谁 replaces person
怎么走？	Zěnme zǒu?	How do I get there?	怎么 before verb
你为什么不来？	Nǐ wèi shénme bù lái?	Why aren't you coming?	为什么 before verb
现在几点？	Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?	What time is it?	几 for small numbers
多少钱？	Duōshǎo qián?	How much money?	多少 for amounts
你要哪个？	Nǐ yào nǎge?	Which one do you want?	哪 + measure word
你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	What is your name?	common phrase
你什么时候走？	Nǐ shénme shíhòu zǒu?	When are you leaving?	time question

Common Mistakes

Moving question words to the front

• Wrong: 什么你买了？ (What you bought?)
• Right: 你买了什么？ (You bought what?)
• Why: Chinese question words stay in situ -- in the position where the answer would appear.

Adding 吗 to question-word questions

• Wrong: 你去哪儿吗？
• Right: 你去哪儿？
• Why: Question words already make the sentence a question; adding 吗 is redundant and grammatically incorrect.

Confusing 几 and 多少

• Wrong: Using 几 for large numbers or prices
• Right: Use 几 for small countable numbers (usually under 10, with measure word); 多少 for larger quantities or when unsure of magnitude
• Why: 几 implies a small, expected number range; 多少 is open-ended.

Practice Tips

• Practice the "swap" technique: make a statement, then replace one element with the matching question word. Do this systematically for subject, object, place, time, and manner.
• Memorize the most common question phrases as chunks: 什么时候, 多少钱, 为什么, 怎么样 (how is it).
• When forming questions, visualize the answer first, then replace the answer with the question word in the same position.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Yes/No Questions with 吗 -- learn simpler question patterns before question words