Yes-or-no questions with 吗
Add 吗 ma to the end of a statement to turn it into a neutral yes-or-no question. Keep the word order the same.
Do not add 吗 after a question word such as “what” or “where”. A sentence like 你在哪里吗？ mixes two different question patterns.
Question words stay in the answer position
Mandarin question words do not move to the front. Replace the missing information where the answer would go.
what: 你吃什么？ — What are you eating?
who: 那个人是谁？ — Who is that person?
where: 你住在哪里？ — Where do you live?
when: 你什么时候来？ — When are you coming?
why: 你为什么学习中文？ — Why do you study Chinese?
how: 这个怎么用？ — How do you use this?
The A-not-A pattern
For a conversational alternative to 吗, repeat the verb or adjective with 不 between the two forms. This asks whether something is or is not true.
- 你喜不喜欢咖啡？ Nǐ xǐ bu xǐhuan kāfēi? — Do you like coffee?
- 你有没有时间？ Nǐ yǒu méi yǒu shíjiān? — Do you have time?
- 这是不是你的？ Zhè shì bu shì nǐ de? — Is this yours?
The second syllable in an A-not-A question is often light. Listen for the rhythm instead of stressing both copies equally.
Make questions easier to answer
A short question with one clear target is easier for a listener than a long sentence translated from English. Add a time, place, or polite opener only when it helps the listener understand the situation.
When you do not understand the answer, use 可以再说一遍吗？ (Could you say that again?) or 可以说慢一点吗？ (Could you speak more slowly?). Asking for repetition is a normal part of a real conversation.
Common learner mistakes
- Do not move 什么, 谁, or 哪里 to the front as you would in English. Leave the question word where the answer belongs.
- Do not add 吗 to a question that already has a question word. Choose one pattern.
- Use the matching A-not-A form for 有 and 是: 有没有？ and 是不是？, rather than repeating an unrelated verb.
At a cafe, compare 你喝咖啡吗？ (Do you drink coffee?) with 你喝什么？ (What are you drinking?). The first expects yes or no; the second asks for one missing detail.