Let’s dive into how to use the Chinese words for who, what, why, where, which, when and how. In English, question words are typically placed at the beginning of a question but Chinese question words can also appear in different positions within the sentence.
Who: 谁 (shéi )
谁 is also pronounced shuí.
Subject + 是 +谁?
1. 她是谁？
(tā shì shéi?) Who is she?
2. 约翰是谁？
(yuēhàn shì shéi?) Who is John?
谁 + verb?
3. 谁是你们班的班长?
(shéi shì nǐmen bān de bānzhǎng?) Who is the class monitor in your class?
4. 谁想去？
(shéi xiǎng qù?) Who wants to go?
Whose: 谁的
5. 这是谁的作业？
(zhèshì shéi de zuòyè?) Whose homework is this?
6. 那是谁的书？
(nàshi shéi de shū?) Whose book is this?
What: 什么 (shén me)
Subject + verb + 什么
1. 这是什么？
(zhèshì shénme?) What is this?
2. 你想吃什么？
(nǐ xiǎng chī shénme? ) What do you want to eat?
3. 你说什么？
(nǐ shuō shénme? ) What did you say?
Why: 为什么 (wèi shén me)
Subject +为什么 + verb?
1. 你为什么没写作业？
(nǐ wèishénme méi xiězuò yè?) Why didn’t you do your homework?
2. 你为什么要去机场？
nǐ wèishénme yào qù jīchǎng? Why do you want to go to the airport?
3. 你为什么喜欢那本书？
(nǐ wèishénme xǐhuan nà běnshū?) Why do you like that book?
Where: 哪里 (nǎ lǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr)
Subject + 在 + 哪里 / 哪儿？
1. 卫生间在哪儿？
(wèishēngjiān zài nǎr?) Where is the bathroom?
2. 图书馆在哪里？
(túshūguǎn zài nǎlǐ?) Where is the library?
3. 你在哪里？
(nǐ zài nǎlǐ?) Where are you?
Which: 哪 (nǎ)
Subject + verb + 哪 + measure word (+object)?
1. 你要哪个？
(nǐ yào nǎge?) Which one do you want?
2. 你想买哪个？
(nǐ bǐjiào xǐhuan nǎge bēizi?) Which cup do you like better?
3. 哪本书比较好看？
(nǎ běnshū bǐjiào hǎokàn?) Which book is more interesting?
哪+ measure word + verb + object?
4. 哪只猫是你的？
(nǎ zhǐ māo shì nǐde?) Which cat is yours?
5. 哪个杯子是她的？
(nǎge bēizi shì tā de?) Which cup is hers?
When: 什么时候 (shén me shí hou)
Subject + 什么时候 + verb?
1. 你什么时候回国？
(nǐ shénmeshíhou huíguó?) When are you going back home?
2. 他什么时候毕业？
(tā shénmeshíhou bìyè?) When is he graduating?
Subject + 是 + 什么时候
3. 你的生日是什么时候？
(nǐde shēngrì shì shénmeshíhou?) When is your birthday?
4. 春节是什么时候？
(chūnjié shì shénmeshíhou?) When is the Spring Festival?
How: 怎么 (zěn me)
Subject (+ adverb) + 怎么 + verb + object?
1. 你最近怎么样？
(nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?) How have you been recently?
2. 我怎么去食堂？
(wǒ zěnme qù shítáng?) How do I get to the cafeteria?
3. 你怎么不写作业？
(nǐ zěnme bù xiězuò yè? ) How come you aren’t doing your homework?
4. 我应该怎么回答这个问题？
(wǒ yīnggāi zěnme huídá zhège wèntí?) How should I answer this question?