# How to Ask Questions in Chinese: 吗, A-not-A (是不是 / 有没有) and Question Words

Source: https://sentencecoach.com/grammar/yes-no-questions
Level: HSK 1–2

Chinese has three main ways to ask a question, and none of them change word order like English. For yes/no questions, either add 吗 to the end of a statement (你去吗？) OR repeat the verb/adjective in an A-not-A pattern (你去不去？, 今天冷不冷？, 你有没有时间？). For information questions, keep normal statement word order and put the question word (谁, 什么, 哪儿, 几点) in the exact spot where the answer will go. Never combine 吗 with A-not-A or question words.

Patterns:
- Statement + 吗？: Standard yes/no question: 他会说中文吗？
- Subject + Verb + 不 + Verb (+ Object)？: Present/future A-not-A: 你去不去学校？ / 你喜不喜欢？
- Subject + 有没有 + Noun / Verb？: Have or past A-not-A: 你有没有空？ / 你昨天去没去？
- Subject + Verb + Question Word (in answer slot)？: Word order stays the same: 你找谁？ 你去哪儿？

Examples:
- 你今天晚上有空吗？ (nǐ jīn tiān wǎn shàng yǒu kōng ma?) — Are you free tonight?
- 这家饭馆的菜好吃不好吃？ (zhè jiā fàn guǎn de cài hǎo chī bù hǎo chī?) — Is the food at this restaurant good or not?
- 你昨天有没有看见我的手机？ (nǐ zuó tiān yǒu méi yǒu kàn jiàn wǒ de shǒu jī?) — Did you see my phone yesterday?
- 请问，这本书是谁写的？ (qǐng wèn, zhè běn shū shì shuí xiě de?) — Excuse me, who wrote this book?

Common mistakes:
- ✗ 你去不去学校吗？ → ✓ 你去不去学校？ / 你去学校吗？: A-not-A (去不去) and 吗 both mark a yes/no question; use one or the other, never both.
- ✗ 你很忙不忙？ → ✓ 你忙不忙？: Do not use degree adverbs like 很 or 非常 inside an A-not-A question.
- ✗ 哪儿你去？ → ✓ 你去哪儿？: Chinese does not move question words to the front; 哪儿 stays after the verb 去 just like the answer (我去学校).

FAQ:
- Q: How do two-character verbs work in A-not-A questions?
  A: You can repeat the whole word (喜欢不喜欢) or drop the second character on the first pass (喜不喜欢, 高不高兴, 认不认识).