HSK 1Questions
Question Word Questions
Question words (什么, 谁, 哪里, 怎么) replace the unknown element in place — no word order change.
Pattern
Statement with unknown replaced by question word
Explanation
In Chinese, question words go in the same position as the answer would. No word order change needed.
If the answer is '我叫小明', the question is '你叫什么名字？' — 什么 sits where the answer would be.
Examples
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What's your name?
谁是你的老师？
Shéi shì nǐ de lǎoshī?
Who is your teacher?
你住在哪里？
Nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ?
Where do you live?
Common Mistakes
Wrong
什么你叫名字？
Correct
你叫什么名字？
Don't move the question word to the front. Keep normal word order.
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