ParticlesHSK 1

Questions with 呢

呢 is placed after a topic to ask 'what about...?' It is commonly used to bounce a question back or ask about a new subject in context. Unlike 吗, 呢 does not turn a statement into a yes-no question; it requires a topic to refer to.

Structure

Topic + 呢？

Examples

这个很好，那个呢？
Zhège hěn hǎo, nàge ne ?
This one is good. What about that one?
我在家，你呢？
Wǒ zài jiā. Nǐ ne ?
I'm at home. What about you?
你哥哥有工作，弟弟呢？
Nǐ gēge yǒu gōngzuò. Dìdi ne ?
Your big brother has a job. What about your little brother?
北京下雨了。上海呢？
Běijīng xiàyǔ le. Shànghǎi ne ?
It's raining in Beijing. How about in Shanghai?
今天晚上没空？明天晚上呢？
Jīntiān wǎnshang méi kòng? Míngtiān wǎnshang ne ?
You don't have time tonight? What about tomorrow evening?

Words that use this

呢neparticle indicating that a previously asked question is to be applied to the preceding word ("What about ...?", "And ...?"); particle for inquiring about location ("Where is ...?"); particle signaling a pause, to emphasize the preceding words and allow the listener time to take them on board ("ok?", "are you with me?"); (at the end of a declarative sentence) particle indicating continuation of a state or action; particle indicating strong affirmation