吗
turns a statement into a yes/no question
Structure
陈述句 + 吗？
What it means
吗 at the end turns a statement into a yes/no question. Nothing else in the sentence changes.
How it is built
Statement + 吗？: 你是老师 → 你是老师吗？ (Are you the teacher?) 你认识张老师吗？ (Do you know Teacher Zhang?)
When to use it
Keep the word order; don't move the verb to the front as in English. Answer by repeating the verb or adjective, not with a bare “yes” or “no”: 是 / 不是, 忙 / 不忙, 认识 / 不认识.
Watch out
A question that already has a question word takes no 吗: ✗ 你叫什么名字吗？ ✓ 你叫什么名字？ The same goes for 哪儿 (where?).
Examples
你是老师吗？
Are you the teacher?
你工作忙吗？
Are you busy at work?
你认识张老师吗？
Do you know Teacher Zhang?
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 1: 我是学生 (Who’s who)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →