Allen: And I’m Allen. This week, we'll be learning useful sentence structures for asking questions. For example, today we'll be learning how to ask if someone has a certain profession.
Y: Yes. Remember, Allen, when you saw my friend and started asking me all these questions about her? You asked, “Is she a teacher?” because you thought she was so warm and kind? Well, today we'll learn how to ask that question in Chinese. If you learn, maybe I'll tell you the answer.
A: Really, then I'll try my best. Let's get started with the key words of the day.
***************Key Words of the Day
Today, we’ll learn how to deliver a question in Chinese. 她是老师吗？Is she a teacher? 您是医生吗？Are you a doctor? 他是护士吗？Is he a nurse? All in today’s Chinese Studio.
****************
Y: 她是老师吗? Is she a teacher?
A: 她是老师吗? (Ta shi laoshi ma?)
Y: T-a, first tone, 她, means she.
A: 她 (ta). Interestingly, I found that he in Chinese is also pronounced “ta”, right?
Y: Exactly. They are homonyms. “Ta”, she, and “ta”, he, both sound the same, but the characters are written differently.
A: Oh, I see. No wonder so many Chinese confuse he and she when speaking English. In Chinese, they only have to remember one word, “ta”.
Y: Right. Now, let's move to the next word, sh-i, fourth tone, 是, which means is.
A: 是, sh-i, is.
Y: Next, 老师, which means teacher. 老师 (laoshi).
A: 老师 (laoshi), teacher.
Y: 她是老师吗? Is she a teacher?
A: 她是老师吗? (Ta shi laoshi ma?)
Y: Then, if she is a teacher, the person you're asking the question to would reply 她是老师 (ta shi laoshi), She is a teacher.
A: 她是老师吗? (Ta shi laoshi ma?) 她是老师 (ta shi laoshi). Oh, the only difference between question and statement, besides tone, is that with the question you have a 吗 (ma) at the end.
Y: Very observant, Allen. 吗 (ma) is very often the only difference between asking a question and making a statement in Chinese. Putting 吗 (ma) at the end of a statement changes it into a question.
A: 她是老师 (ta shi laoshi) She is a teacher. 她是老师吗? (Ta shi laoshi ma?) Is she a teacher?
