HSK 1
疑问代词：多、多少、几、哪、哪儿、哪里、哪些、什么、谁、怎么
yí wèn dài cí ： duō 、 duō shǎo 、 jǐ 、 nǎ 、 nǎr 、 nǎ lǐ 、 nǎ xiē 、 shén me 、 shuí 、 zěn me
Interrogative pronouns (多, 多少, 几, 哪, 哪儿, 哪里, 哪些, 什么, 谁, 怎么)
Explanation
Interrogative pronouns are words used to ask for information in a sentence (asking about people, things, quantity, place, manner...). An important feature of Chinese: the question word stays EXACTLY in the position of the information being asked about; it is NOT moved to the front of the sentence as in English.
The sentence keeps its normal word order, and only the part being asked about is replaced by the question word. - 多 (duō) asks about degree: 多大 (how old / how big), 多高 (how tall). - 多少 (duōshǎo) and 几 (jǐ) ask about quantity; 几 is usually used for small numbers under 10 and always takes a measure word (a counting unit, like "cái, con, quyển" in Vietnamese) (几点 what time), while 多少 is used for large numbers and can be used without a measure word. - 哪 (nǎ) asks in order to choose (哪个 which one); 哪儿/哪里 (nǎr/nǎlǐ) ask about place; 哪些 (nǎxiē) asks "which ones" (plural). - 什么 (shénme) asks about things; 谁 (shéi) asks about people; 怎么 (zěnme) asks about manner/means.
When you need to ask about a specific piece of information that is not yet known. This type of question does NOT add 吗 (ma) at the end.
Vietnamese learners often move the question word to the front of the sentence (wrong: 什么你买？), or add a redundant 吗 (wrong: 你买什么吗？). Remember: if there is already a question word, drop 吗.
Examples
How old is he?
How many students are in your class?
What time is it now?
Which movie do you like?
Where are you (all) going?
Where is the bus station?
Students from which countries are in your class?
What are you buying?
Who is the teacher?
How do you get to the hospital?
Practice
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Learn “疑问代词：多、多少、几、哪、哪儿、哪里、哪些、什么、谁、怎么” effectively
The grammar point “疑问代词：多、多少、几、哪、哪儿、哪里、哪些、什么、谁、怎么” (Interrogative pronouns (多, 多少, 几, 哪, 哪儿, 哪里, 哪些, 什么, 谁, 怎么)) is one of the key structures at HSK 1. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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