part.
A grammatical word placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a simple yes/no question. Also marks rhetorical questions, softens a suggestion, or gently seeks confirmation in casual speech.
吗
Common Usage & Traps
- 你去吗？ — Are you going?
- 你忙吗？ — Are you busy?
- 你是学生吗？ — Are you a student?
- 你吃了吗？ — Have you eaten? (common greeting)
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你叫什么吗？你叫什么？什么 already makes the sentence a question, so 吗 is extra.
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我们走吧吗？我们走吧？ / 我们走吗？吧 and 吗 do different jobs; do not stack them.
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你去吗？是的，我去吗。你去吗？是的，我去。吗 belongs in the question, not in the answer.
吧 vs 吗: How sentence-final particles change meaning completely?
吗 asks for yes-or-no info; 吧 suggests, invites, or assumes.
吗 is a pure yes-no information question (我们去吗? = Are we going?). 吧 is an invitation, softened suggestion, or mild assumption (我们去吧! = Let's go!). Use 吧 when you want agreement or action, not a neutral fact check.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral yes-no ask | 你去吗？ (Are you going?) | 你去吧？ (if you need a yes/no answer) |
| Invitation or suggestion | 我们去吧! (Let's go!) | 我们去吗! (not an invitation) |
| Mild assumption | 你是学生吧? (You're a student, right?) | 你是学生吗? (neutral question, not assumption) |
Can you add 吗 to a sentence that already has 什么, 谁, or 哪?
No. 什么, 谁, and 哪 already make the sentence a question.
什么, 谁, 哪, and 怎么 already make a sentence a question. Adding 吗 on top is like saying 'What is your name, yes or no?' in English. Say 你叫什么? not 你叫什么吗?
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Question word | 你叫什么？ | 你叫什么吗？ |
| Place question | 你去哪儿？ | 你去哪儿吗？ |
| Person question | 你的老师是谁？ | 你的老师是谁吗？ |
How do you answer 你是学生吗: 是, 是的, or repeat the verb?
Answer by repeating the verb or using 是/不是, not by saying 吗.
Chinese has no single yes or no word. For 你是学生吗? answer 是, 是的, or 不是. For 你忙吗? answer 忙 or 不忙. 是吗 is a surprised reaction meaning Really?, not a yes answer.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Yes to 你是学生吗？ | 是 / 是的 | 是吗 |
| No to 你是学生吗？ | 不是 | 不是吗 |
| Yes to 你忙吗？ | 忙 | 是 |
| No to 你忙吗？ | 不忙 | 不是 |
When should I ask 你忙吗 versus 你忙不忙?
吗 is a neutral yes/no ask; A-not-A often feels more direct.
你忙吗? is a neutral yes/no question. 你忙不忙? also asks if you are busy, but it can sound more direct or like you are checking. In daily talk, 吗 is often the softer choice.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral ask | 你忙吗？ | 你忙不忙？ (when you want a softer tone) |
| Direct check | 你忙不忙？ | 你忙吗不忙？ |
| Wrong mix | 你忙吗？ / 你忙不忙？ | 你忙吗不忙？ |
Appears in Stories 12 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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.
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这样子好 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.
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问一下儿，你在等人 吗 ？
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Ａ：可以问你几个问题 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.
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今天，你那里下雨了 吗 ？
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你有热茶喝 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.
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你觉得老王能咸鱼翻身 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.
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B：你自己来的 吗 ？
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你的爸爸妈妈也来了 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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这还是茶馆儿 吗 ？
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.
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汉语和中文不都是“Chinese” 吗 ？
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你有汉语老师和中文老师 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.
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我写了找猫的话，天天有人打电话问我‘老先生，猫找到了 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.
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小米：你们知道 吗 ？
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北京人也说“这里”和“那里” 吗 ？
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