HSK 1
Correct
吧 vs 呢 vs 吗
/ ba vs ne vs ma /
Strokes
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Formula
1
Noun/Noun Phrase/Pronoun + 呢
Definition
吧, 呢 and 吗 are all Modal Particles (语气助词), used at the end of interrogative sentences:
1, 吧 can only be used at the end of yes-no questions. It is used when the speaker has an answer in his mind, but he/she is not sure whether it is right. The tone indicates the speaker's surmise;
2, 呢 can only be used at the end of alternative questions or wh-questions to weaken the tone, indicating that the speaker does not know the answer or is uncertain about the answer. Therefore, it is often spoken in a consultative tone;
3, 吗 can only be placed at the end of yes-no questions.
Example
吗 can only be placed at the end of yes-no questions, but not wh-questions or alternative questions.
吗 is used when the speaker is pretty sure about the answer.
1
Tā
他
shì
是
nǐ
你
gēge
哥哥
ma
吗
?
Is he your elder brother?
2
Tā
他
míngtiān
明天
qù
去
páshān
爬山
ma
吗
?
Will he climb the mountain tomorrow?
3
Nǐ
你
shì
是
zhōngguó
中国
rén
人
ma
吗
?
Are you a Chinese?
4
Nǐ
你
bù
不
xǐhuan
喜欢
dá
打
lánqiú
篮球
ma
吗
?
Don't you like playing basketball?
吧 can only be used at the end of yes-no questions, but not wh-questions or alternative questions - 1
吧 is used when the speaker has an answer, which he/she is not sure about. The tone of the question is an uncertain one indicating the speaker is guessing.
5
Jīntiān
今天
shì
是
zhōumò
周末
,
chāoshì
超市
de
的
rén
人
hěnduō
很多
bā
吧
?
Today is weekend, there must be many people in the supermarket.
6
Nǐ
你
zài
在
zhōngguó
中国
xué
学
hànyǔ
汉语
xué
学
le
了
wǔ
五
nián
年
le
了
,
hànyǔ
汉语
hěn
很
hǎo
好
bā
吧
?
You've been learning Chinese for five years in China, your Chinese must be good.
吧 can only be used at the end of yes-no questions, but not wh-questions or alternative questions - 2
It is used to offer a suggestion.
7
Míngtiān
明天
wǒmen
我们
qù
去
yóuyǒng
游泳
bā
吧
。
Shall we go swimming?
8
Wǒmen
我们
jīntiān
今天
chī
吃
yú
鱼
bā
吧
。
Let's eat fish today, ok?
The differences between 吗 and 吧 are as follows
The speaker does not know the answer when 吗 is used. But the speaker may know the answer and wants to get confirmation from the other party when 吧 is used.
9
Nǐ
你
shì
是
lǎoshī
老师
ma
吗
?
(
yěxǔ
也许
shì
是
,
yěxǔ
也许
bú
不
shi
是
)
Are you a teacher? (Maybe you are ,maybe you are not.)
10
Nǐ
你
shì
是
lǎoshī
老师
bā
吧
?
(
wǒ
我
rènwéi
认为
hěn
很
yǒu
有
kěnéng
可能
shì
是
)
You're a teacher, aren't you? (I think "you" may be a teacher.)
呢 can only be used at the end of alternative questions or wh-questions to weaken the tone - 1
It indicates that the speaker does not know the answer or is uncertain about the answer. Therefore, it is often spoken in a consultative tone.
It can be used in wh-questions and in alternative questions.
It can be used in wh-questions and in alternative questions.
11
Shénme
什么
shíhou
时候
qù
去
lǚyóu
旅游
ne
呢
?
(
bù
不
zhīdào
知道
)
When do we go traveling? (The speaker does not know.)
12
Shǔjià
暑假
zánmen
咱们
qù
去
běijīng
北京
háishi
还是
shànghǎi
上海
ne
呢
?
(
shāngliang
商量
)
Are we going to Beijing or Shanghai during summer vacation? (consultation)
呢 can only be used at the end of alternative questions or wh-questions to weaken the tone - 2
In conversation, the structure "Noun/Noun Phrase/Pronoun + 呢" functions as a wh-question.
Noun/Noun Phrase/Pronoun + 呢
13
A
A
:
shǔjià
暑假
nǐmen
你们
dào
到
nǎr
哪儿
qù
去
wánr
玩儿
le
了
ya
呀
?
B
B
:
qù
去
běijīng
北京
le
了
,
nǐ
你
ne
呢
?
A: Where did you go during summer holiday? B: We went to Beijing, How about you?
14
A
A
:
xiǎolín
小林
ne
呢
?
(
=
xiǎolín
小林
zài
在
nǎr
哪儿
?
)
B
B
:
qù
去
cānjiā
参加
tóngxué
同学
de
的
shēngrì
生日
jùhuì
聚会
le
了
。
A: Where is Xiaolin? B: He went to his classmate's birthday party.
Exercise
Fill in the blanks with 吗, 呢 or 吧:
1. 他是你们公司的经理（ ）？
2. 跟你商量件事，暑假我们去北京玩儿（ ）。
3. 应该找谁帮忙（ ）？让我想一想。
4. 我喜欢打篮球，你（ ）？
5. 这次我们喝菊花茶（ ）， 怎么样？
6. 全班有20个人，现在只有19个人，小林（ ）。
7. 你们什么时间上课（ ）？
8. 谁知道你去过中国（ ）？