HSK 3Questions
Indirect Questions
Question words can be embedded in statements to form indirect questions.
Pattern
Subject + Verb + Question Word + Clause
Explanation
In Chinese, indirect questions use the same question words as direct questions (什么, 谁, 哪里, 怎么, etc.) but are embedded within a larger statement. The word order does not change.
Common verbs that introduce indirect questions include 知道 (know), 告诉 (tell), 问 (ask), 不知道 (don't know), and 想知道 (want to know).
Examples
我不知道他住在哪里。
Wǒ bù zhīdào tā zhù zài nǎlǐ.
I don't know where he lives.
请告诉我怎么去火车站。
Qǐng gàosù wǒ zěnme qù huǒchēzhàn.
Please tell me how to get to the train station.
你知道他是谁吗？
Nǐ zhīdào tā shì shéi ma?
Do you know who he is?
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