How to Ask Questions in Traditional Chinese: 嗎, A-Not-A, and Question Words

Chinese questions are weirdly simple once you stop trying to “flip” word order like English. Most of the time, you keep the same sentence structure and just add a question tool: 嗎 (ma), an A-not-A pattern, or a question word like 誰 (shéi) or 哪裡 (nǎlǐ).

This guide teaches all three (with pinyin + real sentences), plus the mistakes that instantly scream “textbook.”

1) Yes/No Questions With 嗎 (ma)

嗎 (ma) turns a statement into a yes/no question. It’s neutral tone in pinyin, so it’s just ma. In Traditional Chinese, it’s written 嗎 (not simplified 吗).

Pattern: Statement + 嗎

Quick Notes On 嗎

• Don’t use 嗎 with question words (like 誰/什麼/哪裡). You already have a question word—no need to stack question toppings.
• Short, natural checks: 是嗎？ (Shì ma?) = “Really?” / “Is that so?”
• Polite opener: 請問…嗎？ (Qǐngwèn… ma?) = “Excuse me, may I ask…?”

2) A-Not-A Questions (A 不 A)

A-not-A questions offer two options inside the sentence: “A or not A?” They’re extremely common in speech and feel more “conversational” than 嗎.

Core Patterns:
V 不 V / Adj 不 Adj / 是不是 / 有沒有 / 會不會 / 能不能

A-Not-A Answers (So You Don’t Panic)

• Yes: 去。 (Qù.) / 會。 (Huì.) / 可以。 (Kěyǐ.)
• No: 不去。 (Bù qù.) / 不會。 (Bù huì.) / 不行。 (Bù xíng.)
• For “have” / past / “didn’t”: often use 沒有 (méiyǒu) instead of 不 (bù).
  我沒有看到。 (Wǒ méiyǒu kàndào.) = I didn’t see (it).

3) Question Words (Who / What / Where / Why / How…)

Chinese question words stay in the same spot where the answer would go. No sentence gymnastics.

幾 (jǐ) Vs 多少 (duōshǎo): The Quick Fix

• 幾 (jǐ) = “how many” for small-ish, countable numbers (often under ~10), or set formats like dates/times.
  你有幾個兄弟姊妹？
  Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge xiōngdì jiěmèi?
  How many siblings do you have?
• 多少 (duōshǎo) = “how many/much” for unknown or larger numbers, and price.
  你學中文學了多少年？
  Nǐ xué Zhōngwén xué le duōshǎo nián?
  How many years have you studied Chinese?

Useful Real-Life Questions You Can Steal Immediately

1) 請問，這裡有人坐嗎？
Qǐngwèn, zhèlǐ yǒurén zuò ma?
Excuse me, is someone sitting here?

2) 你方便現在講電話嗎？
Nǐ fāngbiàn xiànzài jiǎng diànhuà ma?
Is it convenient to talk on the phone now?

3) 你要不要喝咖啡？
Nǐ yào bu yào hē kāfēi?
Do you want coffee?

4) 你有沒有吃過這家店？
Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu chī guò zhè jiā diàn?
Have you eaten at this place before?

5) 你在找誰？
Nǐ zài zhǎo shéi?
Who are you looking for?

6) 你想買什麼？
Nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme?
What do you want to buy?

7) 最近哪裡好玩？
Zuìjìn nǎlǐ hǎowán?
Where’s fun lately?

8) 你什麼時候到？
Nǐ shénme shíhou dào?
When will you arrive?

9) 你怎麼知道的？
Nǐ zěnme zhīdào de?
How did you know?

10) 你為什麼不說？
Nǐ wèishénme bù shuō?
Why aren’t you saying (it)?

11) 這個可以退嗎？
Zhège kěyǐ tuì ma?
Can I return this?

12) 你覺得怎麼樣？
Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?
What do you think?

Quick Word Tables (So Your Brain Can Chill)

Core Question Tools

Most-Used Question Words

Common Mistakes (And Instant Fixes)

• Mistake: Using 嗎 with a question word.
  Wrong: 你在哪裡嗎？ (Nǐ zài nǎlǐ ma?)
  Right: 你在哪裡？ (Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?)
• Mistake: Trying to invert word order like English.
  Wrong vibe: 你是誰？ is correct, but don’t force “Are you who?” patterns elsewhere—just keep normal order with question words.
• Mistake: Answering A-not-A with “yes/no” only, then freezing.
  Fix: Repeat the verb: 去 / 不去, 會 / 不會, 可以 / 不行.
• Mistake: Using 不 (bù) when you need 沒有 (méiyǒu).
  Fix: For “didn’t happen / don’t have,” 沒有 is often the natural choice: 我沒有去。 (Wǒ méiyǒu qù.)

Practice: Build Questions Fast

Turn each prompt into three questions: one with 嗎, one A-not-A, and one with a question word (if it fits).

• Prompt: “You are free today.” (你今天有空。 Nǐ jīntiān yǒu kòng.)
• Prompt: “You want coffee.” (你想喝咖啡。 Nǐ xiǎng hē kāfēi.)
• Prompt: “You go to the MRT station.” (你去捷運站。 Nǐ qù jiéyùn zhàn.)
• Prompt: “This costs 120.” (這個一百二十。 Zhège yìbǎi èrshí.)

Quick Reference Summary

Pick one question type today and use it five times out loud. Your pronunciation will improve, your confidence will improve, and yes—your brain will stop trying to rearrange everything like English.