Asking 'Who' in Chinese: Using 谁 (shéi)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {谁|shéi} to ask 'who' by placing it exactly where the person's name would go in a normal sentence.
- Place {谁|shéi} in the subject position: {谁|shéi}是老师? (Who is the teacher?)
- Place {谁|shéi} in the object position: 你找{谁|shéi}? (Who are you looking for?)
- Use {谁|shéi} with possessive {的|de}: 这是{谁|shéi}的手机? (Whose phone is this?)
Overview
谁 (shéi) is the fundamental interrogative pronoun in Chinese used to ask "who" or "whom." It is an essential building block for beginners at the A1 CEFR level, enabling direct inquiries about people's identities, roles, or possessions. While you might occasionally encounter the pronunciation shuí, shéi is the overwhelmingly dominant and preferred pronunciation in contemporary spoken Mandarin, making it the practical standard for learners.
Chinese grammar simplifies question formation significantly because it adheres to a principle known as "Wh-in-situ." This means that question words, such as 谁 (shéi), remain in the same grammatical position where the answer would normally appear in a declarative sentence. Unlike English, which often moves "who" to the beginning of a sentence ("Who is he?"), Chinese maintains its established word order, replacing the unknown person with 谁 (shéi). This direct substitution streamlines the learning process, as it removes the need to rearrange sentence structures for questions.
For example, if the answer is 他是医生 (Tā shì yīshēng) – "He is a doctor" – the question simply replaces "doctor" with 谁 (shéi): 他是谁? (Tā shì shéi?) – "He is who?" This consistent pattern is a cornerstone of Chinese question formation and makes 谁 (shéi) remarkably straightforward to integrate into your speech from the very beginning. Understanding this "Wh-in-situ" principle with 谁 (shéi) will also provide a blueprint for mastering other Chinese question words like 什么 (shénme) (what) and 哪里 (nǎli) (where).
From a character perspective, 谁 (shéi) (who) is often confused by beginners with 水 (shuǐ) (water) due to visual similarity. However, 谁 (shéi) contains the speech radical 讠 (yán) on its left side. This radical, often found in characters related to language, speaking, or asking, provides a helpful mnemonic: you use speech (讠) to ask "who."
How This Grammar Works
谁 (shéi) functions directly as a noun in a sentence, replacing the unknown person. Its placement is governed by the "Wh-in-situ" rule, which dictates that 谁 (shéi) occupies the exact position where the information being requested would normally sit within a declarative sentence. This grammatical consistency makes Chinese question words highly predictable and intuitive.谁 (shéi) is used to inquire about the subject, it directly replaces the subject. When it inquires about the object, it directly replaces the object.谁 (shéi) as the Subject:谁 (shéi) takes the subject position at the beginning of the sentence (or where the subject would naturally appear).- Declarative:
李明来了 (Lǐ Míng lái le).– Li Ming came. - Question:
谁来了? (Shéi lái le?)– Who came? - Here,
谁 (shéi)directly replaces李明 (Lǐ Míng)as the subject.
- Declarative:
他喜欢吃面条 (Tā xǐhuān chī miàntiáo).– He likes to eat noodles. - Question:
谁喜欢吃面条? (Shéi xǐhuān chī miàntiáo?)– Who likes to eat noodles?
谁 (shéi) as the Object:谁 (shéi) takes the object position, typically after the verb.- Declarative:
你看见了张老师 (Nǐ kànjiàn le Zhāng Lǎoshī).– You saw Teacher Zhang. - Question:
你看见了谁? (Nǐ kànjiàn le shéi?)– You saw whom? - Here,
谁 (shéi)replaces张老师 (Zhāng Lǎoshī)as the object of the verb看见 (kànjiàn)(to see).
- Declarative:
我认识她 (Wǒ rènshí tā).– I know her. - Question:
你认识谁? (Nǐ rènshí shéi?)– You know who?
谁 (shéi) question by simply swapping out the known person for 谁 (shéi) while preserving the original word order. This predictability is one of the most learner-friendly aspects of Chinese grammar at this level.Formation Pattern
谁 (shéi) is highly systematic, primarily involving the replacement of the unknown person within a standard sentence structure. The core principle remains "Wh-in-situ," meaning 谁 (shéi) occupies the position of the noun or noun phrase it is asking about. Below are the primary patterns you will encounter.
是 shì)
谁 (shéi) functions as the object of the verb 是 (shì) (to be).
是 (shì) + 谁 (shéi)? | 他是谁? | Tā shì shéi? | Who is he? |
她是谁? | Tā shì shéi? | Who is she? |
这是谁? | Zhè shì shéi? | Who is this? |
那个人是谁? | Nà ge rén shì shéi? | Who is that person? |
谁 (shéi). For instance, if you want to state 他是我的老师 (Tā shì wǒ de lǎoshī) – "He is my teacher" – you simply substitute 我的老师 (wǒ de lǎoshī) with 谁 (shéi) to ask the question.
谁 (shéi) will appear at the beginning of the predicate, before the main verb.
谁 (shéi) + Verb Phrase? | 谁会说汉语? | Shéi huì shuō Hànyǔ? | Who can speak Chinese? |\
谁来了? | Shéi lái le? | Who came? |\
谁要喝水? | Shéi yào hē shuǐ? | Who wants to drink water? |\
谁知道答案? | Shéi zhīdào dá'àn? | Who knows the answer? |
谁 (shéi) directly occupies the subject slot. It is grammatically equivalent to replacing a specific person's name (e.g., 王老师会说汉语 (Wáng Lǎoshī huì shuō Hànyǔ)) with 谁 (shéi) to form the question.
谁的 shéi de)
谁 (shéi) followed by the possessive particle 的 (de). This is the same 的 (de) you use to express general possession (e.g., 我的书 (wǒ de shū) – my book).
谁的 (shéi de) + Noun? | 这是谁的书? | Zhè shì shéi de shū? | Whose book is this? |\
那是谁的笔? | Nà shì shéi de bǐ? | Whose pen is that? |\
Subject + 是) + 谁的 (shéi de)? | 这件衣服是谁的? | Zhè jiàn yīfu shì shéi de? | Whose clothes are these? |\
这手机是谁的? | Zhè shǒujī shì shéi de? | Whose phone is this? |
的 (de) to include interrogative possession. Notice that 谁的 (shéi de) can either precede the noun it modifies or stand alone as the predicate if the noun is understood from context (e.g., 这件衣服是谁的? where 这件衣服 is the subject and 谁的 is the predicate asking about ownership).
谁 (shéi) does not change form for singular or plural. It functions as both "who" (singular) and "who" (plural) depending on the context. If you are looking at one person and ask 他是谁?, it means "Who is he?" If you are looking at a group and ask 他们是谁? (Tāmen shì shéi?), it means "Who are they?" or "Who among them?" The context clarifies whether you are asking about one individual or multiple individuals.
When To Use It
谁 (shéi) is your go-to word for identifying people in a wide range of situations, from basic introductions to more specific inquiries about actions or belongings. As an A1 learner, you will primarily use 谁 (shéi) in direct questions where the answer is expected to be a person's name, title, or relationship.- Introductions and Identifying Unknown Individuals: This is the most common and foundational use. When you see someone unfamiliar or want to know the identity of a person being discussed,
谁 (shéi)is indispensable. 他是谁?(Tā shì shéi?) – Who is he?那个穿红色衣服的人是谁?(Nà ge chuān hóngsè yīfu de rén shì shéi?) – Who is that person wearing red clothes?请问，你是谁?(Qǐngwèn, nǐ shì shéi?) – Excuse me, who are you? (Use with caution, see Common Mistakes and Quick FAQ for nuances).
- Asking About the Agent of an Action: When you need to know who performed a particular action,
谁 (shéi)takes the subject position. 谁做了饭?(Shéi zuò le fàn?) – Who cooked the meal?谁会开车?(Shéi huì kāichē?) – Who can drive?谁昨天没来上课?(Shéi zuótiān méi lái shàngkè?) – Who didn't come to class yesterday?
- Inquiring About Possession: Using
谁的 (shéi de)allows you to ask about the owner of an item. 这支笔是谁的?(Zhè zhī bǐ shì shéi de?) – Whose pen is this?那个包是谁的?(Nà ge bāo shì shéi de?) – Whose bag is that?这些作业是谁的?(Zhè xiē zuòyè shì shéi de?) – Whose homework is this? (Note:这些 (zhè xiē)indicates plural, but谁的 (shéi de)remains unchanged).
- Common Phrases for Everyday Situations:
- When someone knocks on your door or calls, the standard inquiry is
谁呀? (Shéi ya?)or谁啊? (Shéi a?)– Who is it? (The particle呀 (ya)or啊 (a)adds a casual, inquisitive tone.) - If you hear a voice and need to identify the speaker:
是谁在说话?(Shì shéi zài shuōhuà?) – Who is speaking?
谁 (shéi) is versatile, but its primary function is always to solicit information about a person. It is crucial for building foundational communication skills in Chinese, allowing you to quickly ascertain identities and relationships in various social and practical contexts.Common Mistakes
谁 (shéi) follows a relatively straightforward grammatical rule, learners often make specific errors, primarily due to the influence of English grammar. Recognizing and understanding these common pitfalls is key to accurate and natural Chinese communication.- Incorrect:
谁他是?(Shéi tā shì?) – (Literal: Who he is?) - Correct:
他是谁?(Tā shì shéi?) – (Literal: He is who? / English: Who is he?)
- Incorrect:
谁你认识?(Shéi nǐ rènshí?) – (Literal: Who you know?) - Correct:
你认识谁?(Nǐ rènshí shéi?) – (Literal: You know who? / English: Who do you know?)
谁 (shéi) replaces the noun it questions in its original position. Moving 谁 (shéi) to the beginning disrupts the sentence's natural flow and makes it ungrammatical. Always think of replacing the answer with 谁 (shéi) without otherwise altering the statement's structure.的 (de):的 (de) after 谁 (shéi), leading to an unnatural or incomplete phrase.- Incorrect:
这是谁手机?(Zhè shì shéi shǒujī?) – (Literal: This is who phone?) - Correct:
这是谁的手机?(Zhè shì shéi de shǒujī?) – Whose phone is this?
我的 (wǒ de) means "my" and 你的 (nǐ de) means "your," 谁的 (shéi de) is the fixed expression for "whose." The particle 的 (de) is crucial for indicating possession or modification. Omitting it sounds telegraphic and grammatically incomplete.谁 (shéi) with 什么 (shénme) or 哪 (nǎ):谁 (shéi) is exclusively for people. Using it for objects or when a selection is implied is incorrect.- Incorrect:
这是谁?(Zhè shì shéi?) when pointing at a book. (This would ask "Who is this?") - Correct:
这是什么?(Zhè shì shénme?) – What is this?
- Incorrect:
你喜欢谁颜色?(Nǐ xǐhuān shéi yánsè?) when asking about color preference from a limited set. - Correct:
你喜欢什么颜色?(Nǐ xǐhuān shénme yánsè?) – What color do you like? (General inquiry) - More Specific Correct:
你喜欢哪个颜色?(Nǐ xǐhuān nǎ ge yánsè?) – Which color do you like? (From a given selection)
谁 (shéi) asks about a person's identity. 什么 (shénme) asks about the identity of things or general information. 哪 (nǎ) or 哪个 (nǎ ge) asks "which" when there is a specific, limited choice. Using the wrong interrogative can lead to confusion or awkwardness, such as asking a book "who it is."谁 (shéi):谁 (shéi) is generally appropriate, it can sometimes sound blunt if used too directly in specific formal contexts, especially when asking "Who are you?" or "Who is calling?" In such situations, 哪位 (nǎwèi) is preferred.- Potentially Blunt:
你是谁?(Nǐ shì shéi?) – Who are you? - More Polite/Formal:
您是哪位?(Nín shì nǎwèi?) – Who are you? / May I ask who this is? (Used with您 nín, the polite form of "you," and哪位 nǎwèi, the polite form of "who.")
你是谁? is grammatically correct, its directness can be perceived as impolite in certain professional or formal interactions. 哪位 (nǎwèi) conveys respect and is analogous to saying "which honored person" in English, making it suitable for situations requiring deference.谁 (shéi).Real Conversations
Understanding how 谁 (shéi) is used in practical, everyday conversations is crucial for moving beyond textbook examples. Native speakers integrate 谁 (shéi) naturally into various contexts, from casual chats to more formal inquiries. Here's how 谁 (shéi) appears in modern Chinese communication.
1. Identifying New People in Social Settings:
This is a very common scenario, whether you're at a party, meeting new colleagues, or just curious about someone in your vicinity.
- Scenario: You see your friend talking to someone new at an event.
- 那是谁啊? (Nà shì shéi a?) – Who is that? (The particle 啊 (a) adds a casual, inquisitive, slightly drawn-out tone, common in spoken Chinese.)
- 她是你的新同事吗? (Tā shì nǐ de xīn tóngshì ma?) – Is she your new colleague?
- Scenario: Your friend mentions someone you don't know.
- 你说的是谁? (Nǐ shuō de shì shéi?) – Who are you talking about? (Lit: "The one you speak of is who?")
- 我不认识这个人。 (Wǒ bù rènshí zhè ge rén.) – I don't know this person.
2. Answering the Door or Phone:
When an unknown person is at the door or on the other end of a phone call, 谁 (shéi) is used directly.
- Doorbell rings:
- 谁呀? (Shéi ya?) – Who is it? (The particle 呀 (ya) softens the tone, making it sound more natural and less abrupt than just 谁?)
- 我是快递员。 (Wǒ shì kuàidìyuán.) – I'm the delivery person.
- Phone rings (informal):
- 喂，你是谁? (Wéi, nǐ shì shéi?) – Hello, who is this? (Common among friends or if you don't recognize the number.)
- Phone rings (formal/polite):
- 请问您是哪位? (Qǐngwèn nín shì nǎwèi?) – May I ask who this is? (This is the highly preferred, respectful way to ask "who are you" on the phone in formal contexts, using 您 (nín) and 哪位 (nǎwèi)).
3. Inquiring About Responsibility or Action:
To find out who performed a task or is responsible for something.
- Scenario: A messy situation at home.
- 谁把灯关了? (Shéi bǎ dēng guān le?) – Who turned off the light? (Using the 把 (bǎ) structure)
- 不是我。 (Bú shì wǒ.) – Not me.
- Scenario: Discussing a group project.
- 这个报告谁负责? (Zhè ge bàogào shéi fùzé?) – Who is responsible for this report?
- 小王负责。 (Xiǎo Wáng fùzé.) – Xiao Wang is responsible.
4. Asking About Possession:
谁的 (shéi de) is used for identifying ownership in daily life.
- Scenario: Finding an item.
- 这支伞是谁的? (Zhè zhī sǎn shì shéi de?) – Whose umbrella is this?
- 好像是李老师的。 (Hǎoxiàng shì Lǐ Lǎoshī de.) – It seems to be Teacher Li's.
- Scenario: In a shared office.
- 这个水杯是谁的? 我想洗一下。 (Zhè ge shuǐbēi shì shéi de? Wǒ xiǎng xǐ yīxià.) – Whose water bottle is this? I want to wash it.
5. Embedded Questions (Slightly more advanced, but common):
谁 (shéi) can also appear in the middle of sentences as part of an embedded question, where its position remains unchanged even though it's not the main question of the sentence.
- 我不知道他是谁。 (Wǒ bù zhīdào tā shì shéi.) – I don't know who he is.
- 你问问谁可以帮忙。 (Nǐ wènwen shéi kěyǐ bāngmáng.) – You ask who can help.
These examples illustrate that 谁 (shéi) is not just a grammatical concept but a flexible tool for navigating social interactions and gathering information in authentic Chinese conversations. Pay attention to context and the subtle nuances added by particles like 啊 (a) or 呀 (ya) to sound more natural.
Quick FAQ
谁 (shéi), building on the previous explanations and clarifying potential ambiguities.谁 (shéi) always mean "who" or "whom"?Yes, 谁 (shéi) universally translates to "who" or "whom" in its interrogative function. Its grammatical role (subject or object) is determined by its position within the sentence, consistent with the "Wh-in-situ" principle.
谁 (shéi)? How do I ask "who all" or "which people"?谁 (shéi) itself does not have a plural form; it can refer to a single person or multiple people depending on the context. For instance, 他们是谁? (Tāmen shì shéi?) means "Who are they?" where 他们 (tāmen) indicates plurality.
哪些人 (nǎxiē rén):哪些人要参加会议?(Nǎxiē rén yào cānjiā huìyì?) – Which people (among us) will attend the meeting?
你是谁? (Nǐ shì shéi?) versus 您是哪位? (Nín shì nǎwèi?)?你是谁? (Nǐ shì shéi?) is grammatically correct for "Who are you?" However, it can sound quite direct, even blunt, and potentially impolite in formal settings or when addressing someone older or of higher status. It's more commonly used in casual, informal situations, or if there's suspicion about someone's identity.
您是哪位? (Nín shì nǎwèi?) is the polite and respectful way to ask "Who are you?" or "May I ask who this is?" It uses 您 (nín), the polite form of "you," and 哪位 (nǎwèi), a polite term for "who" (literally, "which honored person"). Always opt for 您是哪位? in professional interactions, when addressing strangers, or in any situation requiring deference.谁 (shéi) have the 讠 (speech) radical?The 讠 (yán) radical, meaning "speech" or "word," is a semantic component found in many Chinese characters related to language, communication, and inquiry. Its presence in 谁 (shéi) visually reinforces the character's function as an interrogative pronoun, a word used for asking questions through speech. This contrasts it with characters like 水 (shuǐ) (water), which does not have this radical.
谁 (shéi) be used in rhetorical questions?Yes, in more advanced contexts, 谁 (shéi) can be used rhetorically to imply "no one" or "everyone," similar to English. For example, 谁不知道? (Shéi bù zhīdào?) can mean "Who doesn't know?" implying "Everyone knows." However, for A1 learners, focus on its direct interrogative use first.
谁 (shéi) appear in the middle of a sentence, not just at the end or beginning?Absolutely. This occurs in embedded questions or subordinate clauses. Even within a larger sentence, the "Wh-in-situ" rule holds. 谁 (shéi) will appear where the unknown person would be in that specific clause. For example:
我不知道他是谁。(Wǒ bù zhīdào tā shì shéi.) – I don't know who he is. (Here,他是谁is the object of不知道(don't know), and谁is still at the end of the embedded clause).你可以问问谁有空。(Nǐ kěyǐ wènwen shéi yǒu kòng.) – You can ask who is free. (Here,谁有空is the object of问问(ask), and谁is the subject of the embedded clause有空 (yǒu kòng)).
谁 (shéi) incredibly versatile and predictable, even as you advance to more complex sentence structures. Mastery of 谁 (shéi) at the A1 level provides a solid foundation for understanding Chinese grammar's logical and consistent approach to question formation.3. Question Structure with {谁|shéi}
| Role | Structure | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subject
|
谁 + Verb
|
{谁|shéi}去?
|
Who is going?
|
|
Object
|
Subject + Verb + 谁
|
你爱{谁|shéi}?
|
Who do you love?
|
|
Possessive
|
谁 + 的 + Noun
|
{谁|shéi}的书?
|
Whose book?
|
|
Prepositional
|
Prep + 谁
|
和{谁|shéi}?
|
With whom?
|
|
Topic
|
谁 + 是 + Noun
|
{谁|shéi}是老板?
|
Who is the boss?
|
|
Plural
|
谁 + 们 (rare)
|
{谁|shéi}们?
|
Who (plural)?
|
|
Emphasis
|
到底 + 谁
|
到底{谁|shéi}?
|
Who exactly?
|
|
Negative
|
谁 + 不 + Verb
|
{谁|shéi}不去?
|
Who is not going?
|
Meanings
The interrogative pronoun {谁|shéi} is used to inquire about the identity of a person or persons.
Subject identity
Asking who performs an action.
“{谁|shéi}想去? (Who wants to go?)”
“{谁|shéi}是你的朋友? (Who is your friend?)”
Object identity
Asking who is the recipient of an action.
“你爱{谁|shéi}? (Who do you love?)”
“你看见了{谁|shéi}? (Who did you see?)”
Possessive
Asking for ownership.
“这是{谁|shéi}的伞? (Whose umbrella is this?)”
“那是{谁|shéi}的猫? (Whose cat is that?)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + 谁
|
我找{谁|shéi}？
|
|
Subject
|
谁 + Verb + Object
|
{谁|shéi}吃苹果？
|
|
Possessive
|
谁 + 的 + Object
|
这是{谁|shéi}的？
|
|
Prepositional
|
Prep + 谁 + Verb
|
跟{谁|shéi}去？
|
|
Negative
|
谁 + 不 + Verb
|
{谁|shéi}不吃？
|
|
Plural
|
谁 + 们
|
{谁|shéi}们在？
|
|
Emphasis
|
到底 + 谁
|
到底{谁|shéi}？
|
|
Rhetorical
|
谁 + 知道
|
{谁|shéi}知道？
|
Formality Spectrum
请问那是{谁|shéi}? (Identifying a person)
那是{谁|shéi}? (Identifying a person)
那是{谁|shéi}啊? (Identifying a person)
谁啊? (Identifying a person)
The Many Roles of {谁|shéi}
Subject
- {谁|shéi}来了 Who came?
Object
- 你找{谁|shéi} Who are you looking for?
Possessive
- {谁|shéi}的包 Whose bag?
Who vs. What
How to ask 'Who'
Is it a person?
Is it possessive?
Examples by Level
{谁|shéi}是老师?
Who is the teacher?
你找{谁|shéi}?
Who are you looking for?
这是{谁|shéi}的笔?
Whose pen is this?
{谁|shéi}想喝水?
Who wants to drink water?
{谁|shéi}和你一起去?
Who is going with you?
你告诉了{谁|shéi}?
Who did you tell?
{谁|shéi}的手机响了?
Whose phone rang?
你认识{谁|shéi}?
Who do you know?
{谁|shéi}能帮我一下?
Who can help me for a second?
你觉得{谁|shéi}会赢?
Who do you think will win?
{谁|shéi}的建议最好?
Whose suggestion is the best?
你刚才在和{谁|shéi}说话?
Who were you talking to just now?
{谁|shéi}有权决定这件事?
Who has the right to decide this?
无论{谁|shéi}来，都要登记。
Whoever comes must register.
{谁|shéi}的责任更大?
Whose responsibility is greater?
你到底在等{谁|shéi}?
Who exactly are you waiting for?
{谁|shéi}能预料到结果呢?
Who could have predicted the outcome?
这不仅是{谁|shéi}的问题。
This is not just a question of who.
{谁|shéi}的利益会受损?
Whose interests will be harmed?
我们不知道{谁|shéi}是幕后黑手。
We don't know who the mastermind is.
{谁|shéi}之过也?
Whose fault is it?
无论{谁|shéi}，皆不可逾越。
No matter who, none may cross.
此乃{谁|shéi}之杰作?
Whose masterpiece is this?
莫问{谁|shéi}，只问心。
Don't ask who, just ask your heart.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'who' and 'what'.
Learners use 'which' when they mean 'who'.
Learners try to move {谁|shéi} to the front.
Common Mistakes
{谁|shéi}你找?
你找{谁|shéi}?
这是{谁|shéi}书?
这是{谁|shéi}的书?
你{谁|shéi}?
你是{谁|shéi}?
{谁|shéi}是去?
{谁|shéi}去?
{谁|shéi}们是?
{谁|shéi}是?
跟{谁|shéi}去?
你跟{谁|shéi}去?
你看见{谁|shéi}了?
你看见{谁|shéi}了?
无论{谁|shéi}，他都去。
无论{谁|shéi}，都去。
这是{谁|shéi}的，我不知道。
我不知道这是{谁|shéi}的。
{谁|shéi}的建议是最好的?
{谁|shéi}的建议最好?
谁之过?
{谁|shéi}之过?
谁，我不知道。
我不知道是谁。
谁的利益受损了?
{谁|shéi}的利益受损?
Sentence Patterns
{谁|shéi}是___?
你找___?
这是{谁|shéi}的___?
{谁|shéi}想___?
Real World Usage
{谁|shéi}在吗?
{谁|shéi}是班长?
{谁|shéi}负责这个部门?
请问{谁|shéi}是导游?
{谁|shéi}点的外卖?
{谁|shéi}知道这个?
Don't Move It!
Possession
Pronunciation
Politeness
Smart Tips
Just replace the name with {谁|shéi}.
Write the statement first, then swap the person.
Always add {的|de} after {谁|shéi}.
Don't panic, it's just a variation of 'shéi'.
Pronunciation
Standard Pronunciation
The standard is 'shéi', but 'shuí' is very common in spoken Chinese.
Tone
The second tone (rising) is consistent.
Question Intonation
Sentence + ?
Rising pitch at the end of the sentence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Shéi' as 'Say who?'. When you need to know a name, you 'Say who?'
Visual Association
Imagine a person wearing a mask. You point at them and ask '{谁|shéi}?'
Rhyme
When you want to know who is in the room, just say {谁|shéi} and clear the gloom.
Story
A detective walks into a room. He sees a hat on the table and asks '{谁|shéi}的帽子?'. Then he sees a man in the corner and asks '{谁|shéi}在那儿?'. Finally, he asks the man '{谁|shéi}是你的朋友?'.
Word Web
Challenge
For the next 5 minutes, look at every person you see and mentally ask '{谁|shéi}是...?'
Cultural Notes
People often use 'shuí' in casual conversation, though 'shéi' is taught in schools.
Pronunciation is generally 'shéi'.
Often carry over their own interrogative structures, but 'shéi' is universally understood.
The character {谁|shéi} is a phono-semantic compound. It combines the radical for 'speech' (讠) with the phonetic component (隹).
Conversation Starters
{谁|shéi}是你的老师?
你认识{谁|shéi}?
这是{谁|shéi}的手机?
{谁|shéi}会做中国菜?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ 是你的老师?
A: {谁|shéi}你找? B: 你找{谁|shéi}?
Find and fix the mistake:
这是{谁|shéi}书?
是 / {谁|shéi} / 老师 / ?
Who is he?
Answer starts with: 他是{...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: 你在找___? B: 我在找老师.
You should always move {谁|shéi} to the front of the sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ 是你的老师?
A: {谁|shéi}你找? B: 你找{谁|shéi}?
Find and fix the mistake:
这是{谁|shéi}书?
是 / {谁|shéi} / 老师 / ?
Who is he?
1. {谁|shéi}去? 2. 这是{谁|shéi}的?
A: 你在找___? B: 我在找老师.
You should always move {谁|shéi} to the front of the sentence.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
5 exercises[{你的|nǐde}, {是|shì}, {谁|shéi}, {朋友|péngyou}]
Translate the sentence:
___ {在|zài} {家|jiā} ?
Match the pairs:
Select the casual pronunciation for 谁:
Score: /5
FAQ (8)
No, Chinese is an 'in-situ' language. Keep the word order of a statement.
Both are correct. 'shéi' is standard, 'shuí' is common in speech.
Yes, but usually just {谁|shéi} is enough. {谁|shéi}们 is rare.
Use {哪|nǎ} + 个 + 人.
It is neutral and used in all contexts.
It marks possession, similar to 's in English.
Yes, e.g., '{谁|shéi}不吃?' (Who is not eating?).
No, {谁|shéi} is for people, {什么|shénme} is for things.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
quién
Chinese word order remains the same; Spanish moves 'quién' to the front.
qui
Chinese has no verb conjugation or auxiliary 'do' support.
wer
Chinese is case-less.
dare
Japanese uses particles like 'ga' or 'o' to mark the role of 'dare'.
man
Chinese is 'in-situ', Arabic is usually fronted.
谁
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma)
Overview In Mandarin Chinese, the particle `吗` (ma) is the most fundamental tool for creating a yes/no question. Its f...
Chinese Yes/No Questions: The 'Verb-Not-Verb' Trick (V-not-V)
Overview In Chinese, asking a yes/no question does not always rely on an interrogative particle like `吗` (`ma`). A fund...
Asking 'What' in Chinese (shénme)
Overview Chinese grammar often simplifies what English speakers find complex. A prime example is how you ask "what." Unl...
Asking 'Where' in Chinese (哪里 / 哪儿)
Overview Chinese grammar, unlike English, often places question words directly where the answer would appear in a declar...
Chinese 'Why Bother': 何必 (hébì)
Overview `何必` (hébì) is a powerful rhetorical device in Chinese that translates broadly to "why bother," "why must," o...
