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Questions with 呢 (and you? / where?)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
Meeting a new classmate
- A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from.
- I我to be / is是Chengdu subprovincial city…成都person人，you你(and …?)呢？ — "I'm from Chengdu. And you?"
Noun + (and …?)呢？ = "What about …?"
- X + (and …?)呢？ asks the same question again about X: I我very很well好，you你(and …?)呢？ — "I'm fine, and you?"
- The question is understood from what was just said, so it can be very short.
I我very很well好，you你(and …?)呢？
Complete: “I like tea. What about you?” 我喜欢喝茶，你____？
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X + 呢 repeats the question about X.
Where is it? (and …?)呢 on its own
- With no context, Noun + (and …?)呢？ asks where something is: I我(modifier / structural particle)的keys钥匙(and …?)呢？ — "Where are my keys?"
- (and …?)呢 also softens a question-word question: you你(in progress)在what are you doing?干什么(and …?)呢？ — "What are you up to?"
my我的keys钥匙(where?)呢？
Said while searching your bag, 我的手机呢？ means “Where's my phone?”
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With no earlier question, Noun + 呢 asks where something is.
(and …?)呢 and (yes/no ?)吗 are different
- Do not put (and …?)呢 on a yes-no question: you你to be / is是teacher老师(yes/no ?)吗？, not you你to be / is是teacher老师(and …?)呢？
- To ask “where?”, use you你to go去where哪儿？ or you你to go去where哪儿(and …?)呢？. With (yes/no ?)吗 the question word changes meaning: you你to go去where哪儿(yes/no ?)吗？ asks “Are you going anywhere?”
Which question is correct?
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Yes-no questions take 吗; 呢 does not make a yes-no question.
(and …?)呢 for an ongoing action
- At the end of a statement, (and …?)呢 can mark something still going on: he他(in progress)在sleep睡觉(and …?)呢。 — "He's sleeping (right now)."
- It often goes with (in progress)在 or (ongoing -ing)着: outside (also pr. for this…外面下着雨(and …?)呢 — "It's raining out."
he他(in progress)在sleep睡觉呢。
Build: “He's sleeping right now.”
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在 + verb + 呢 marks an action in progress.
Recap
- X + (and …?)呢？ = and X? / what about X?; with no context, where is X?
- Not on yes-no questions (use (yes/no ?)吗). After (in progress)在 + verb, (and …?)呢 marks an ongoing action.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Particles.
A new classmate tells you she comes from Chengdu, then waits for you to say where you are from. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.