A spoken sound from the mouth (口) that turns a statement into a question. Sentence-final yes/no question particle; also used in rhetorical tag questions like “isn’t it?” 口 (mouth) + 马 (horse): a mouth firing a question as fast as a horse.
吗 cannot stand alone. It must attach to a full sentence.
吗 always goes at the very end of the sentence.
什么 already makes a question. 吗 is only for yes-no questions.
哪儿 already makes a question. Adding 吗 is wrong.
吗 asks for information; 吧 suggests, invites, or guesses. Swap them and the vibe flips.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking a neutral question | 你去吗？ (Are you going?) | 你去吧？ (sounds like a guess or suggestion) |
| Making a suggestion | 我们去吧! (Let's go!) | 我们去吗？ (just asks, does not suggest) |
| Guessing or confirming | 你是学生吧？ (You're a student, right?) | 你是学生吗？ (neutral question, no guess) |
吗 makes a yes-no question; 呢 bounces the question back or asks where something is.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Yes-no question | 你忙吗？ | 你忙呢？ (wrong word) |
| Follow-up question | 我很好，你呢？ | 我很好，你吗？ (sounds odd) |
| Asking where something is | 我的书呢？ | 我的书吗？ (means 'Is it my book?') |
No. Question words already make a question; adding 吗 sounds wrong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking what | 你叫什么？ | 你叫什么吗？ |
| Asking where | 你去哪儿？ | 你去哪儿吗？ |
| Asking who | 他是谁？ | 他是谁吗？ |
Repeat the verb: 去 or 不去, 是 or 不是. Bare 是 or 不 often sounds incomplete.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Yes answer | 去。 / 是。 / 对。 | 吗。 (not an answer) |
| No answer | 不去。 / 不是。 / 不对。 | 不吗。 (nonsense) |
| Full answer | 你去吗? — 我去。 | 你去吗? — 吗。 (nonsense) |
Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.
汉语和中文不都是“Chinese” 吗 ？
你有汉语老师和中文老师 吗 ？
A：你在学校里学习中文 吗 ？
A:你不是在北京上班 吗 ？
有两千个小时这么多时间学习 吗 ？
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
问一下儿，你在等人 吗 ？
Ａ：可以问你几个问题 吗 ？
Ａ：你喜欢踢足球和打篮球 吗 ？
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
今天，你那里下雨了 吗 ？
你有热茶喝 吗 ？
小雨，小雨，你也在想我 吗 ？
In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.
B：你自己来的 吗 ？
你的爸爸妈妈也来了 吗 ？
Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.
小米：你们知道 吗 ？
北京人也说“这里”和“那里” 吗 ？
In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.
这样子好 吗 ？
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
你觉得老王能咸鱼翻身 吗 ？
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
那你网球还打 吗 ？
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
他想：“十点了，太晚了，那个小饭店还开 吗 ？”
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
我说那您不饿 吗 。
Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.
这还是茶馆儿 吗 ？
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
我写了找猫的话，天天有人打电话问我‘老先生，猫找到了 吗 ’。
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