When you’re learning Chinese, one of the most useful skills you can pick up early on is to learn how to ask questions in Chinese. Why? Because asking questions helps you start conversations, get information, and learn faster. Whether you’re ordering food, asking for directions, or just trying to get to know someone, questions are your best friend!
In English, we ask questions with words like “what”, “where”, “why”, and “how”. Chinese has its own special way of doing this, and it’s actually easier than you might think! Once you learn the basics, you’ll be able to ask things like: Personal Information; Family; Personal Preferences etc.
Learning how to ask questions in Chinese makes your Chinese more natural, interactive, and fun. Plus, it helps you connect with others and be more confident when you speak. So let’s dive in and discover how to ask questions like a pro — even if you’re just starting out!
Personal Information 个人信息 gè rén xìn xī
你姓什么？ (Nǐ xìng shén me?) – What is your surname?
你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shén me míng zi?) – What is your name?
你的名字怎么念？ (Nǐ de míng zì zěn me niàn?) – How do you pronounce your name?
你的名字怎么读？ (Nǐ de míng zì zěn me dú?) – How do you read your name?
你的名字用英文怎么写？ (Nǐ de míng zì yòng Yīng wén zěn me xiě?) – How do you write your name in English?
你是哪里人？ (Nǐ shì nǎ lǐ rén?) – Where are you from?
你来自哪里？ (Nǐ lái zì nǎ lǐ?) – Where do you come from?
你是哪年出生的？ (Nǐ shì nǎ nián chū shēng de?) – What year were you born?
你多大？ (Nǐ duō dà?) – How old are you?
你几岁？ (Nǐ jǐ suì?) – How old are you? (Usually for children)
您贵庚？ (Nín guì gēng?) – May I ask your (honorable) age? (Very polite/formal)
你的电话号码是多少？ (Nǐ de diàn huà hào mǎ shì duō shǎo?) – What is your phone number?
你的电话号码是几号？ (Nǐ de diàn huà hào mǎ shì jǐ hào?) – What is your phone number? (Less commonly used)
你结婚了吗？ (Nǐ jié hūn le ma?) – Are you married?
你有男朋友（女朋友）吗？ (Nǐ yǒu nán péng you (nǚ péng you) ma?) – Do you have a boyfriend (girlfriend)?
你的生日是什么时候？ (Nǐ de shēng rì shì shén me shí hou?) – When is your birthday?
你有什么爱好？ (Nǐ yǒu shén me ài hào?) – What hobbies do you have?
你有孩子吗？ (Nǐ yǒu hái zi ma?) – Do you have children?
你孩子多大了？ (Nǐ háizi duō dà le?) – How old is your child?
你先生（妻子）是做哪一行的？ (Nǐ xiān sheng (qīzi) shì zuò nǎ yī háng de?) – What does your husband (wife) do for a living?
Family 家庭 jiā tíng
你家有几口人？
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?
How many people are there in your family?你有兄弟姐妹吗？
Nǐ yǒu xiōng dì jiě mèi ma?
Do you have siblings?你爸爸是做什么的？
Nǐ bàba shì zuò shén me de?
What does your dad do? / What is your dad’s occupation?你妈妈是家庭主妇吗？
Nǐ māmā shì jiā tíng zhǔ fù ma?
Is your mom a housewife?你在家中排行老几？
Nǐ zài jiā zhōng pái háng lǎo jǐ?
What is your birth order in the family?你家里有老年人吗？
Nǐ jiā lǐ yǒu lǎo nián rén ma?
Are there elderly people in your family?
Daily routine 日常作息 rì cháng zuò xī
你每天几点起床？
Nǐ měi tiān jǐ diǎn qǐ chuáng?
What time do you wake up every day?你有吃早餐的习惯吗？
Nǐ yǒu chī zǎo cān de xí guàn ma?
Do you have a habit of eating breakfast?你几点上班？
Nǐ jǐ diǎn shàng bān?
What time do you go to work?你几点去学校？
Nǐ jǐ diǎn qù xué xiào?
What time do you go to school?你几点下班？
Nǐ jǐ diǎn xià bān?
What time do you get off work?你几点放学？
Nǐ jǐ diǎn fàng xué?
What time do you finish school?你几点睡觉？
Nǐ jǐ diǎn shuì jiào?
What time do you go to bed?
Preference 偏好 piān hào
你喜欢做运动吗？
Nǐ xǐ huān zuò yùn dòng ma?
Do you like to exercise?你喜欢吃什么？
Nǐ xǐhuān chī shén me?
What do you like to eat?你喜欢喝什么饮料？
Nǐ xǐ huān hē shén me yǐn liào?
What drinks do you like?你喜欢什么颜色？
Nǐ xǐ huān shén me yán sè?
What is your favorite color?你喜欢看什么类型的电影？
Nǐ xǐ huān kàn shén me lèi xíng de diàn yǐng?
What type of movies do you like to watch?你喜欢旅游吗？
Nǐ xǐ huān lǚ yóu ma?
Do you like traveling?你有讨厌的东西吗？
Nǐ yǒu tǎo yàn de dōng xi ma?
Is there anything you dislike?你喜欢吃甜的还是咸的食物？
Nǐ xǐ huān chī tián de hái shì xián de shí wù?
Do you prefer sweet or salty food?你喜欢哪个季节？
Nǐ xǐ huān nǎ ge jì jié?
Which season do you like?
Home and living 居家生活 jū jiā shēng huó
你住哪里？
Nǐ zhù nǎlǐ?
Where do you live?你家有几间房？你家有几室几厅？
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ jiān fáng? Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ shì jǐ tīng?
How many rooms does your house have? How many bedrooms and living rooms does your house have?你家的门牌号是多少？
Nǐ jiā de mén pái hào shì duō shǎo?
What is your house number?你家住几楼？
Nǐ jiā zhù jǐ lóu?
What floor do you live on?你住的小区交通方便吗？
Nǐ zhù de xiǎo qū jiāo tōng fāng biàn ma?
Is the transportation convenient in your residential community?你家小区的设施完善吗？
Nǐ jiā xiǎo qū de shè shī wán shàn ma?
Are the facilities in your residential community well-developed?你和家人一起住吗？
Nǐ hé jiā rén yì qǐ zhù ma?
Do you live with your family?你家是二手屋还是新屋？
Nǐ jiā shì èr shǒu wū hái shì xīn wū?
Is your home a second-hand house or a new house?
Work 工作 gōng zuò
你的工作是什么？
Nǐ de gōng zuò shì shén me?
What is your job?你是做什么的？
Nǐ shì zuò shén me de?
What do you do for a living?你是从事什么行业的？
Nǐ shì cóng shì shén me háng yè de?
What industry are you in?你在哪儿上班？
Nǐ zài nǎr shàng bān?
Where do you work?你怎么去上班？
Nǐ zěn me qù shàng bān?
How do you commute to work?你的职位是什么？
Nǐ de zhí wèi shì shén me?
What is your position?你的年薪是多少？
Nǐ de nián xīn shì duō shǎo?
What is your annual salary?你公司是跨国企业吗？
Nǐ gōng sī shì kuà guó qǐ yè ma?
Is your company a multinational enterprise?你和同事相处得融洽吗？
nǐ hé tóng shì xiāng chǔ dé róng qià ma?
Do you get along well with your colleagues?你公司有在招聘吗？
Nǐ gōng sī yǒu zài zhāo pìn ma?
Is your company hiring?你公司的有薪年假有多少天？
nǐ gōng sī de yǒu xīn nián jià yǒu duō shǎo tiān?.
How many days of paid annual leave does your company have?
Future 将来 jiāng lái
你将来有什么打算？
Nǐ jiāng lái yǒu shé me dǎ suàn?
What are your plans for the future?你对未来有什么计划？
Nǐ duì wèi lái yǒu shé me jì huà?
What plans do you have for the future?毕业后你打算在哪里就业？
Bì yè hòu nǐ dǎ suàn zài nǎ lǐ jiù yè?
Where do you plan to work after graduation?你打算继续念书吗？
Nǐ dǎ suàn jì xù niàn shū ma?
Do you plan to continue studying?你打算在哪个城市工作呢？
Nǐ dǎ suàn zài nǎ ge chéng shì gōng zuò ne?
In which city do you plan to work?你打算出国留学吗？
Nǐ dǎ suàn chū guó liú xué ma?
Do you plan to study abroad?你的梦想是什么？
Nǐ de mèng xiǎng shì shén me?
What is your dream?
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