吗
ma
Question particle
How to ask yes-no questions in Chinese with 吗 (ma)
Statement + 吗 (ma)？
吗 (ma) — yes-no questions
HSK 1Question Forms
Statement + 吗 (ma)？
HSK 1Question Forms吗 (ma) — yes-no questions
Rule structure
To turn any statement into a general question implying a "yes/no" answer, it is necessary to add the particle 吗 (ma) at the end of the sentence. The word order of the statement doesn't change, just add the particle.
Rule structure
To turn any statement into a general question implying a "yes/no" answer, it is necessary to add the particle 吗 (ma) at the end of the sentence. The word order of the statement doesn't change, just add the particle.
Examples
你喜欢咖啡吗？
Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?
Do you like coffee?
你喜欢猫吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān māo ma?
Do you like cats?
你是老师吗？
Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
Are you a teacher?
Examples
你喜欢咖啡吗？
Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?
Do you like coffee?
你喜欢猫吗？
Nǐ xǐhuān māo ma?
Do you like cats?
你是老师吗？
Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
Are you a teacher?
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “yes-no questions” in Chinese with 吗?
Use the structure: Statement + 吗 (ma)？. For example: 你喜欢咖啡吗？ — “Do you like coffee?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
你喜欢咖啡吗？ — “Do you like coffee?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 1.
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More HSK 1 grammar rules
了吗 — questions with 了吗
Verb + 了 (le) + 吗 (ma)？
怎么样 — how is it?
⋯⋯怎么样 (zěnmeyàng)？
什么 — question words
什么 (shénme) / 什么时候 (shénme shíhòu) / 谁 (shéi) / 哪儿 (nǎr) / 为什么 (wèishéme) / 怎么 (zěnme)
是 — “is” in Chinese
A + 是 (shì) + B
来 vs 去 — coming and going
来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Place
星期 — days of the week
星期 (xīngqī) + Number
时间 — time words and word order
Subj. + Time … / Time + Subj. …
在 — actions in progress
(正 (zhèng)) 在 (zài) + Verb