A1 Questions 12 min read Easy

Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma)

Add 吗 {ma|ma} to the end of any statement to turn it into a Yes/No question.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Add '吗' to the end of any statement to turn it into a yes/no question instantly.

  • Place '吗' at the very end of a complete statement: {你|nǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}?
  • Do not change the word order of the original sentence: {他|tā} {是|shì} {老师|lǎoshī} {吗|ma}?
  • The particle '吗' is neutral in tone and does not carry a specific meaning other than questioning.
Statement + 吗 = Question?

Overview

In Mandarin Chinese, the particle 吗 (ma) is the most fundamental tool for creating a yes/no question. Its function is elegantly simple: it transforms a declarative statement into a question without altering word order or requiring auxiliary verbs. This stands in stark contrast to English, where forming a question often involves syntactic inversion (e.g., “You are a student” becomes “Are you a student?”).

Chinese grammar, in this instance, favors efficiency, using a single particle to change a sentence’s function.

Think of 吗 as a grammatical question mark. It is a neutral tone particle (轻声, qīngshēng), meaning it's pronounced lightly and without a specific tone contour. Its sole purpose is to signal a shift from a statement to a neutral inquiry, inviting a simple affirmation or negation.

A question formed with 吗 is a straightforward request for information; it carries no inherent bias, surprise, or skepticism from the speaker. For any A1 beginner, mastering 吗 is the first major step toward interactive conversation, unlocking the ability to ask the thousands of simple questions that fuel daily communication.

The core linguistic principle at play is the use of particles to handle grammatical functions that other languages might manage with syntax or verb conjugation. By placing 吗 at the end of a statement, you preserve the entire sentence's structure—subject, verb, object—and simply flag it as a question. This structural minimalism is a key feature of Chinese grammar and makes forming basic questions remarkably consistent and easy to learn.

How This Grammar Works

The function of 吗 (ma) is purely grammatical. It belongs to a class of words called modal particles (语气助词, yǔqì zhùcí), which appear at the end of sentences to express mood or tone. The particle 吗 specifically changes the mood from declarative (a statement) to interrogative (a question).
It carries no dictionary meaning on its own; it only serves this grammatical purpose.
Its placement is the most important rule: 吗 always goes at the very end of the sentence, just before the question mark. It attaches to a complete, well-formed statement. For example, the statement 他是医生 (Tā shì yīshēng, He is a doctor) is a complete thought.
Adding 吗 turns it into a question: 他是医生吗？ (Tā shì yīshēng ma?, Is he a doctor?). The original statement remains entirely intact.
Phonetically, 吗 is always a neutral tone (轻声, qīngshēng). This is crucial. It is not pronounced mā, má, or mǎ.
Instead, it is short, unstressed, and tends to fall in pitch, blending smoothly with the syllable that precedes it. This lack of stress helps signal its purely functional role in the sentence.
Crucially, questions formed with 吗 anticipate an answer that affirms or denies the predicate of the sentence. Chinese does not have direct single-word equivalents for “yes” and “no.” Instead, you answer by repeating the main verb or adjective from the question. This is a foundational concept for answering any Chinese question.
  • Question: 你忙吗？ (Nǐ máng ma?) - Are you busy?
  • Affirmative Answer: 忙 (Máng) - Busy. (Literally, affirming the state of “busy”)
  • Negative Answer: 不忙 (Bù máng) - Not busy. (Literally, negating the state of “busy”)
  • Question: 他是美国人吗？ (Tā shì Měiguórén ma?) - Is he American?
  • Affirmative Answer: 是 (Shì) - Is. (“Yes, he is.”)
  • Negative Answer: 不是 (Bú shì) - Is not. (“No, he isn't.”)

Formation Pattern

1
The pattern for forming a 吗 question is perfectly consistent and requires no changes to the internal structure of the original sentence. This makes it one of the most reliable grammar rules for beginners to learn and apply.
2
The Basic Formula:
3
Declarative Sentence (Statement) + 吗?
4
To use this pattern, you simply construct a complete statement and then append 吗 to the end. Let's break this down by sentence type.
5
1. With Adjectival Predicates:
6
When the main part of the predicate is an adjective, often preceded by an adverb like 很 (hěn).
7
Statement: 你很累。 (Nǐ hěn lèi.) - You are tired.
8
Question: 你很累 + 吗 → 你很累吗？ (Nǐ hěn lèi ma?) - Are you tired?
9
2. With Verbal Predicates:
10
When the predicate contains a verb and potentially an object.
11
Statement: 他喜欢中国菜。 (Tā xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.) - He likes Chinese food.
12
Question: 他喜欢中国菜 + 吗 → 他喜欢中国菜吗？ (Tā xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma?) - Does he like Chinese food?
13
3. With the Verb 是 (shì):
14
When the sentence identifies or defines something using the verb 是 (to be).
15
Statement: 这是你的手机。 (Zhè shì nǐ de shǒujī.) - This is your phone.
16
Question: 这是你的手机 + 吗 → 这是你的手机吗？ (Zhè shì nǐ de shǒujī ma?) - Is this your phone?
17
The following table demonstrates this pattern across various sentence structures:
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| Statement (陈述句) | Pinyin | Question (疑问句) | Pinyin | Translation |
19
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
20
| 她是中国人。 | Tā shì Zhōngguórén. | 她是中国人吗？ | Tā shì Zhōngguórén ma? | Is she Chinese? |
21
| 这个菜很辣。 | Zhège cài hěn là. | 这个菜很辣吗？ | Zhège cài hěn là ma? | Is this dish spicy? |
22
| 他们明天去北京。 | Tāmen míngtiān qù Běijīng. | 他们明天去北京吗？ | Tāmen míngtiān qù Běijīng ma? | Are they going to Beijing tomorrow? |
23
| 你吃晚饭了。 | Nǐ chī wǎnfàn le. | 你吃晚饭了吗？ | Nǐ chī wǎnfàn le ma? | Have you eaten dinner? |
24
| 他会说中文。 | Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén. | 他会说中文吗？ | Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén ma? | Can he speak Chinese? |
25
| 我们可以进来。 | Wǒmen kěyǐ jìnlái. | 我们可以进来吗？ | Wǒmen kěyǐ jìnlái ma? | May we come in? |
26
Notice how the addition of 吗 is the only change made. The subject, verb, object, and even time words (明天) or particles (了) remain in their original positions. This unwavering consistency is the key to mastering the pattern.

When To Use It

The 吗 (ma) particle is your go-to tool for asking neutral, binary (yes/no) questions. Its use is appropriate in a vast range of social and professional contexts. Understanding its common applications will allow you to navigate everyday conversations effectively.
1. For General, Unbiased Inquiries
This is the most common use-case. You use 吗 when you are genuinely seeking a piece of information and hold no preconceived notion about the answer.
  • 你是学生吗？ (Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?) - Are you a student? (A neutral question to a stranger.)
  • 这里有洗手间吗？ (Zhèlǐ yǒu xǐshǒujiān ma?) - Is there a restroom here?
2. To Politely Verify Information
You often use 吗 to confirm something you suspect is true without sounding presumptuous. It's a softer, more polite way of checking facts.
  • 您是李经理吗？ (Nín shì Lǐ jīnglǐ ma?) - Are you Manager Li? (Using the polite 您 (nín) enhances the formality.)
  • 这是去上海的火车吗？ (Zhè shì qù Shànghǎi de huǒchē ma?) - Is this the train to Shanghai?
3. To Ask for Permission or Make Requests
When combined with modal verbs like 可以 (kěyǐ, can/may) or 能 (néng, can/be able to), 吗 is essential for making polite requests.
  • 我可以坐这里吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò zhèlǐ ma?) - May I sit here?
  • 现在可以开始吗？ (Xiànzài kěyǐ kāishǐ ma?) - Can we start now?
4. To Inquire About Subjective Feelings, Opinions, or States
吗 is perfect for asking about someone's personal experience or opinion on something.
  • 你累吗？ (Nǐ lèi ma?) - Are you tired?
  • 这个电影好看吗？ (Zhège diànyǐng hǎokàn ma?) - Is this movie good? (Literally, “good-to-watch”)
5. To Check for Completion of an Action (with 了 le)
A very common pattern is using 了 (le) to indicate a completed action or change of state, and then adding 吗 to ask if it has happened yet.
  • 你吃午饭了吗？ (Nǐ chī wǔfàn le ma?) - Have you eaten lunch?
  • 他到了吗？ (Tā dào le ma?) - Has he arrived yet?
Contrast: 吗 vs. the Verb-not-Verb (V-not-V) Pattern
Chinese has another common way to ask yes/no questions: the V-not-V pattern (e.g., 你是不是学生？). For A1 learners, the primary difference is stylistic. Both are correct.
吗 is universally applicable and always sounds neutral and polite. The V-not-V form can sometimes feel slightly more informal or conversational, and occasionally presents more of a forced choice. When in doubt, using 吗 is always a safe and correct option.

Common Mistakes

While the 吗 (ma) pattern is straightforward, learners often make a few predictable errors. Understanding these mistakes is key to avoiding them and achieving grammatical accuracy.
Mistake 1: Using 吗 with other question words (the biggest error).
Question words like 什么 (shénme, what), 谁 (shéi, who), 哪里 (nǎlǐ, where), 什么时候 (shénme shíhou, when), 为什么 (wèishénme, why), and 怎么 (zěnme, how) already make a sentence a question. Adding 吗 at the end is redundant and grammatically incorrect. It's like asking in English, “What is your name, yes or no?”
  • Incorrect: 你叫什么名字吗？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì ma?)
  • Correct: 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?)
  • Correct: 你的名字是李明吗？ (Nǐ de míngzì shì Lǐ Míng ma?) - Is your name Li Ming?
Mistake 2: Combining 吗 with the Verb-not-Verb pattern.
The V-not-V structure (e.g., 是不是, 喜欢不喜欢) is a self-contained way of asking a yes/no question. It serves the same function as 吗. Using both in the same sentence is redundant.
  • Incorrect: 你是不是学生吗？ (Nǐ shì bu shì xuéshēng ma?)
  • Choose one pattern:
  • 你是学生吗？ (Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?)
  • 你是不是学生？ (Nǐ shì bu shì xuéshēng?)
Mistake 3: Incorrect placement of 吗.
This mistake is less common but happens. The particle 吗 has a fixed position and cannot be moved. It must always be the final element in the sentence, before the punctuation.
  • Incorrect: 你吗是老师？ (Nǐ ma shì lǎoshī?)
  • Incorrect: 你是吗老师？ (Nǐ shì ma lǎoshī?)
  • Correct: 你是老师吗？ (Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?)
Mistake 4: Answering a 吗 question with a simple 是 (shì) or 不 (bù).
As explained in “How This Grammar Works,” you must answer by affirming or negating the main verb or adjective. While 是 is the correct answer for a question with 是 in it, it's the wrong answer for a question with a different verb.
  • Question: 你喜欢喝茶吗？ (Nǐ xǐhuān hē chá ma?) - Do you like to drink tea?
  • Incorrect Answer: 是。 (Shì.)
  • Correct Answer: 喜欢。 (Xǐhuān.) - I like it.
  • Correct Answer: 不喜欢。 (Bù xǐhuān.) - I don't like it.

Real Conversations

Textbook examples are clean, but 吗 (ma) appears in even more concise and natural forms in daily life. Here’s how you’ll see and hear it used in modern, casual contexts.

S

Scenario 1

Text Message Opener

The single most common way to start a chat conversation is 在吗？ (Zài ma?). It literally means “Are you at [a location]?” but functionally it means “Are you there?” or “You online?”

W

Wei texts Li

*
A

A

在吗？ (Zài ma?) - You there?
B

B

在。 (Zài.) - Yep.
A

A

晚上有空吗？一起看电影。 (Wǎnshang yǒu kòng ma? Yìqǐ kàn diànyǐng.) - Free tonight? Let’s see a movie together.
S

Scenario 2

In a Restaurant

吗 is used constantly for polite requests to service staff.

C

Customer to Waiter

*

服务员，可以加一点米饭吗？ (Fúwùyuán, kěyǐ jiā yìdiǎn mǐfàn ma?) - Excuse me, can I get a little more rice?

好的，马上来。 (Hǎo de, mǎshàng lái.) - Okay, coming right up.

S

Scenario 3

Office Banter

Co-workers use 吗 for quick, informal status checks.

Colleague A approaches Colleague B's desk:*

A

A

报告发给客户了吗？ (Bàogào fā gěi kèhù le ma?) - Sent the report to the client yet?
B

B

还没。老板说还要再改改。 (Hái méi. Lǎobǎn shuō hái yào zài gǎi gǎi.) - Not yet. The boss said it still needs some changes.
S

Scenario 4

Checking Understanding

When explaining something, a speaker might use 懂了吗？ (Dǒng le ma?) or 明白了吗？ (Míngbai le ma?) to mean “Got it?” or “Understand?”

T

Teacher to Student

*

这个汉字的笔顺，你明白了吗？ (Zhège Hànzì de bǐshùn, nǐ míngbai le ma?) - The stroke order for this character, do you understand it now?

明白了，谢谢老师。 (Míngbai le, xièxie lǎoshī.) - I understand now, thank you teacher.

Quick FAQ

Q: Is 吗 considered formal or informal?

吗 is wonderfully neutral. It is neither inherently formal nor informal, making it one of the most versatile tools in the language. It is perfectly appropriate in a boardroom asking 王总，会议现在开始吗？ (Wáng zǒng, huìyì xiànzài kāishǐ ma? - Director Wang, is the meeting starting now?) and equally at home with a friend asking 你饿了吗？ (Nǐ è le ma? - Are you hungry?). Its neutrality is its greatest strength.

Q: What is the real difference between 你好吗？ and 你好不好？

Both are yes/no questions. A 吗 question is a simple, open-ended inquiry. The Verb-not-Verb (V-not-V) version, 好不好, often feels slightly more insistent or presents the options (good / not good) more explicitly. In many contexts, they are interchangeable. However, 吗 is the more standard, foundational pattern. As a learner, you can never go wrong with 吗.

Q: Can I just use rising intonation to ask a question, like in English?

No, this is a very common trap for English speakers. While rising intonation exists in Chinese, it is typically used to express surprise, disbelief, or to echo a question back at someone (e.g., 他是你老板？！ - He's your BOSS?!). It does not function as a neutral way to ask a question. To form a grammatically correct and clear yes/no question, you must use a grammatical marker like 吗 or the V-not-V pattern.

Q: Why do so many grammatical particles in Chinese have a neutral tone?

Particles like 吗, 了, 的, and 着 often lose their original tones to signal that they are serving a grammatical function rather than contributing a lexical meaning. Pronouncing them without stress allows them to attach cleanly to the end of a phrase or sentence, acting as lightweight markers that modify the sentence's function without disrupting its core rhythm. It's a key part of the prosody of Mandarin.

Basic Sentence Transformation

Statement Question Meaning
{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng}
{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng} {吗|ma}?
Are you a student?
{他|tā} {很|hěn} {忙|máng}
{他|tā} {很|hěn} {忙|máng} {吗|ma}?
Is he busy?
{这|zhè} {是|shì} {苹果|píngguǒ}
{这|zhè} {是|shì} {苹果|píngguǒ} {吗|ma}?
Is this an apple?
{你|nǐ} {要|yào} {水|shuǐ}
{你|nǐ} {要|yào} {水|shuǐ} {吗|ma}?
Do you want water?
{她|tā} {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiào}
{她|tā} {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiào} {吗|ma}?
Is she going to school?
{这|zhè} {很|hěn} {贵|guì}
{这|zhè} {很|hěn} {贵|guì} {吗|ma}?
Is this expensive?

Meanings

The particle '吗' is used at the end of a declarative sentence to transform it into a yes/no question.

1

Yes/No Question

Used to confirm or deny a fact.

“{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng} {吗|ma}?”

“{他|tā} {去|qù} {学校|xuéxiào} {吗|ma}?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + Verb + Object
{你|nǐ} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {猫|māo}.
Question
Statement + 吗
{你|nǐ} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {猫|māo} {吗|ma}?
Negative
Subject + 不 + Verb
{你|nǐ} {不|bù} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {猫|māo}.
Negative Question
Negative Statement + 吗
{你|nǐ} {不|bù} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {猫|māo} {吗|ma}?
Short Answer (Yes)
Verb
{喜欢|xǐhuān}.
Short Answer (No)
不 + Verb
{不|bù} {喜欢|xǐhuān}.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
{您|nín} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

{您|nín} {去|qù} {吗|ma}? (Asking someone if they are going somewhere.)

Neutral
{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}? (Asking someone if they are going somewhere.)

Informal
{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}? (Asking someone if they are going somewhere.)

Slang
{去|qù} {吗|ma}?

{去|qù} {吗|ma}? (Asking someone if they are going somewhere.)

The '吗' Particle Map

吗

Function

  • Yes/No Binary choice

Position

  • End Sentence-final
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Examples by Level

1

{你|nǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}?

How are you?

2

{这|zhè} {是|shì} {书|shū} {吗|ma}?

Is this a book?

3

{你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?

Are you hungry?

4

{他|tā} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

Is he going?

1

{你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {时间|shíjiān} {吗|ma}?

Do you have time?

2

{这|zhè} {家|jiā} {饭店|fàndiàn} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}?

Is this restaurant good?

3

{你|nǐ} {想|xiǎng} {喝|hē} {咖啡|kāfēi} {吗|ma}?

Do you want to drink coffee?

4

{你|nǐ} {认识|rènshi} {他|tā} {吗|ma}?

Do you know him?

1

{你|nǐ} {看|kàn} {过|guò} {这|zhè} {部|bù} {电影|diànyǐng} {吗|ma}?

Have you seen this movie?

2

{你|nǐ} {确定|quèdìng} {这|zhè} {是|shì} {对|duì} {的|de} {吗|ma}?

Are you sure this is correct?

3

{你|nǐ} {能|néng} {帮|bāng} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {下|xià} {吗|ma}?

Can you help me for a moment?

4

{你|nǐ} {明天|míngtiān} {有|yǒu} {空|kòng} {吗|ma}?

Are you free tomorrow?

1

{你|nǐ} {觉得|juéde} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {方案|fāng'àn} {可行|kěxíng} {吗|ma}?

Do you think this plan is feasible?

2

{你|nǐ} {对|duì} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {话题|huàtí} {感|gǎn} {兴趣|xìngqù} {吗|ma}?

Are you interested in this topic?

3

{你|nǐ} {能|néng} {解释|jiěshì} {一|yī} {下|xià} {原因|yuányīn} {吗|ma}?

Can you explain the reason?

4

{你|nǐ} {考虑|kǎolǜ} {过|guò} {搬|bān} {到|dào} {北京|běijīng} {吗|ma}?

Have you considered moving to Beijing?

1

{你|nǐ} {是否|shìfǒu} {意识|yìshi} {到|dào} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {风险|fēngxiǎn} {吗|ma}?

Are you aware of this risk?

2

{你|nǐ} {能|néng} {保证|bǎozhèng} {这|zhè} {是|shì} {事实|shìshí} {吗|ma}?

Can you guarantee this is a fact?

3

{你|nǐ} {赞同|zàntóng} {这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {观点|guāndiǎn} {吗|ma}?

Do you agree with this viewpoint?

4

{你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {什么|shénme} {更|gèng} {好|hǎo} {的|de} {建议|jiànyì} {吗|ma}?

Do you have any better suggestions?

1

{你|nǐ} {难道|nándào} {不|bù} {觉得|juéde} {这|zhè} {很|hěn} {荒谬|huāngmiù} {吗|ma}?

Don't you think this is absurd?

2

{你|nǐ} {能|néng} {否|fǒu} {详述|xiángshù} {其|qí} {逻辑|luójí} {吗|ma}?

Can you elaborate on its logic?

3

{你|nǐ} {对|duì} {这|zhè} {种|zhǒng} {文化|wénhuà} {现象|xiànxiàng} {有|yǒu} {何|hé} {看法|kànfǎ} {吗|ma}?

What is your opinion on this cultural phenomenon?

4

{你|nǐ} {能|néng} {否|fǒu} {预见|yùjiàn} {其|qí} {潜在|qiánzài} {的|de} {影响|yǐngxiǎng} {吗|ma}?

Can you foresee its potential impact?

Easily Confused

Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma) vs A-not-A Questions

Both ask yes/no questions.

Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma) vs Question Words

Both are used in questions.

Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma) vs Tag Questions (吧)

Both can be used at the end of a sentence.

Common Mistakes

✗

{你|nǐ} {什么|shénme} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {什么|shénme} {时候|shíhou} {去|qù}?

Don't use '吗' with question words.
✗

{吗|ma} {你|nǐ} {好|hǎo}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}?

吗 must be at the end.
✗

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {吗|ma} {学生|xuéshēng}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng} {吗|ma}?

吗 must be at the end.
✗

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma} {不|bù} {去|qù}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {不|bù} {去|qù}?

Don't mix '吗' with A-not-A.
✗

{他|tā} {为什么|wèishénme} {来|lái} {吗|ma}?

✓

{他|tā} {为什么|wèishénme} {来|lái}?

Question words already make it a question.
✗

{你|nǐ} {哪里|nǎlǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {哪里|nǎlǐ}?

Question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{这|zhè} {是|shì} {谁|shéi} {的|de} {书|shū} {吗|ma}?

✓

{这|zhè} {是|shì} {谁|shéi} {的|de} {书|shū}?

Question words already make it a question.
✗

{你|nǐ} {怎么|zěnme} {知道|zhīdào} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {怎么|zěnme} {知道|zhīdào} {的|de}?

Question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {多大|duōdà} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {多大|duōdà}?

Question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {哪|nǎ} {个|gè} {要|yào} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {要|yào} {哪|nǎ} {个|gè}?

Question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {时|shí} {走|zǒu} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {时|shí} {走|zǒu}?

Formal question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {以|yǐ} {见|jiàn} {此|cǐ} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {以|yǐ} {见|jiàn} {此|cǐ}?

Formal question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {处|chù} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {处|chù} {去|qù}?

Formal question words don't need '吗'.
✗

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {人|rén} {也|yě} {吗|ma}?

✓

{你|nǐ} {何|hé} {人|rén} {也|yě}?

Formal question words don't need '吗'.

Sentence Patterns

{你|nǐ} ___ {吗|ma}?

{这|zhè} ___ {吗|ma}?

{他|tā} ___ {吗|ma}?

{你|nǐ} ___ {吗|ma}?

Real World Usage

Texting constant

{在|zài} {吗|ma}?

Ordering Food very common

{这|zhè} {辣|là} {吗|ma}?

Travel common

{这|zhè} {是|shì} {去|qù} {机场|jīchǎng} {的|de} {车|chē} {吗|ma}?

Social Media common

{你|nǐ} {看|kàn} {了|le} {吗|ma}?

Job Interview occasional

{您|nín} {有|yǒu} {什么|shénme} {问题|wèntí} {吗|ma}?

Shopping common

{这|zhè} {有|yǒu} {小|xiǎo} {号|hào} {吗|ma}?

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💡

Keep it simple

Don't overthink the word order. Just write the statement and add '吗'.
⚠️

No double questions

If you use 'what' or 'who', do not use '吗'.
🎯

Listen for the tone

Native speakers often raise their pitch at the end of a '吗' question.
💬

The 'Are you eating?' greeting

In China, '{你|nǐ} {吃|chī} {了|le} {吗|ma}?' is a common way to say hello, not necessarily an invitation to eat.

Smart Tips

Just add '吗' at the end of your sentence.

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng}. → {你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng} {吗|ma}?

Remove '吗' if you see 'what', 'who', or 'where'.

{你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme} {吗|ma}? → {你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme}?

Use '吗' with '您' (polite you).

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}? → {您|nín} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

Use '吗' for a clear yes/no answer.

{你|nǐ} {去|qù}? → {你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

Pronunciation

ma (light)

Neutral Tone

The particle '吗' is pronounced in a neutral tone (no tone mark).

Rising Intonation

Sentence + 吗↗

Standard yes/no question.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of '吗' as a 'Question Hook' that you catch the end of the sentence with.

Visual Association

Imagine a fishing rod catching the end of a sentence and pulling it up into a question mark shape.

Rhyme

At the end of the line, add '吗' to make it shine!

Story

Little Ma was a curious boy. Every time he spoke, he added '吗' to the end of his sentences. His friends would laugh, but they always knew exactly when he was asking a question.

Word Web

{你|nǐ}{好|hǎo}{吗|ma}{是|shì}{不|bù}{去|qù}

Challenge

Write 5 questions you would ask a new friend using '吗' in the next 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Used universally in daily life.

Used similarly, but sometimes replaced by '吗' or '喔' in very casual speech.

Used in Mandarin, but Cantonese uses different particles like '咩' or '吗' (less common).

The particle '吗' evolved from the negation 'ma' (not) in early Chinese.

Conversation Starters

“

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {学生|xuéshēng} {吗|ma}?

“

{你|nǐ} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {中国|zhōngguó} {菜|cài} {吗|ma}?

“

{你|nǐ} {明天|míngtiān} {有|yǒu} {空|kòng} {吗|ma}?

“

{你|nǐ} {去|qù} {过|guò} {北京|běijīng} {吗|ma}?

Journal Prompts

Write 5 questions you would ask a new friend.
Describe your day and ask your teacher 3 questions.
Write a short dialogue about planning a trip.
Discuss your opinion on a topic and ask for feedback.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Add '吗' to the end.

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {老师|lǎoshī} ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {吗|ma}
吗 is the yes/no question particle.
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

A: {你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme} {吗|ma}? B: {你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: B
Don't use '吗' with question words.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

{吗|ma} {你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?
吗 must be at the end.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

{吗|ma} / {你|nǐ} / {饿|è}

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?
Subject + Verb + Particle.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: {你|nǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}.
Answering the question.
Turn into a question. Sentence Transformation

{他|tā} {是|shì} {医生|yīshēng}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {他|tā} {是|shì} {医生|yīshēng} {吗|ma}?
Add 吗 at the end.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {饿|è}.
Logical response.
Which is a valid question? Multiple Choice

Select the correct one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {钱|qián} {吗|ma}?
吗 at the end.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Add '吗' to the end.

{你|nǐ} {是|shì} {老师|lǎoshī} ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {吗|ma}
吗 is the yes/no question particle.
Which is correct? Multiple Choice

A: {你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme} {吗|ma}? B: {你|nǐ} {叫|jiào} {什么|shénme}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: B
Don't use '吗' with question words.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

{吗|ma} {你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {去|qù} {吗|ma}?
吗 must be at the end.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

{吗|ma} / {你|nǐ} / {饿|è}

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?
Subject + Verb + Particle.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: {你|nǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}.
Answering the question.
Turn into a question. Sentence Transformation

{他|tā} {是|shì} {医生|yīshēng}.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {他|tā} {是|shì} {医生|yīshēng} {吗|ma}?
Add 吗 at the end.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

{你|nǐ} {饿|è} {吗|ma}?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {我|wǒ} {很|hěn} {饿|è}.
Logical response.
Which is a valid question? Multiple Choice

Select the correct one.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {钱|qián} {吗|ma}?
吗 at the end.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Complete the question. Fill in the Blank

他 喜欢 咖啡 ___？ (Does he like coffee?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 吗
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

你好___？ (How are you?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 吗
Which sentence is correct? Multiple Choice

Choose the grammatically correct question.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你去学校吗？ (Do you go to school?)
Identify the error. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is WRONG?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你是哪儿吗？ (Nǐ shì nǎr ma?)
Fix the grammar. Error Correction

Is she busy? -> 她很忙？ (Tā hěn máng?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Add '吗' at the end: 她很忙吗？
Arrange the words to form a question. Sentence Reorder

中国人 / 吗 / 是 / 你 / ？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你是中国人吗？
Match the question to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match correctly.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["\u4f60\u597d\u5417\uff1f","\u4f60\u5fd9\u5417\uff1f","\u5bf9\u5417\uff1f"]
Translate 'Do you have money?' Translation

Translate into Chinese.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你有钱吗？ (Nǐ yǒu qián ma?)
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

这是茶，那是咖啡___？ (This is tea, is that coffee?)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 吗
Select the correct version. Error Correction

Wrong: You like China ma? (English word order)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 你喜欢中国吗？
Can you use 'ma' here? Multiple Choice

Sentence: 'Who is he?' ({他}{是}{谁})

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No
Reorder to ask: 'Are they coming today?' Sentence Reorder

来 / 他们 / 今天 / 吗 / ？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 他们今天来吗？

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, '为什么' already makes the sentence a question.

No, it only changes the sentence type.

Yes, it is standard in all registers.

Usually by repeating the verb or saying 'yes/no'.

No, '谁' is a question word.

Yes, it's the same particle.

No, that would be grammatically incorrect.

It is standard in Mandarin, but other dialects have their own particles.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish low

¿...?

Chinese requires a particle, Spanish relies on punctuation.

French moderate

est-ce que

Placement: start vs end.

German low

Verb-Subject inversion

Word order remains fixed in Chinese.

Japanese high

ka

Very similar in function and placement.

Arabic moderate

hal

Placement: start vs end.

Chinese high

吗

The standard baseline.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Asking Yes/No Questions with 'ma' (吗)

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