……呢？
softens a question with 什么, 哪儿, 怎么, 谁, 几 …
Structure
疑问词问句 + 呢 ？
What it means
呢 at the end of a question that has a question word makes it softer and more personal, a bit like “so …?”.
How it is built
Question with 什么, 哪儿, 怎么, 谁 or 几 + 呢: 我们怎么去呢？ (So how do we get there?).
When to use it
It is optional: the question works without it. In lesson p-8 呢 bounced a question back (你呢？); here it softens a question that already has a question word.
Watch out
✗ 你是大卫呢？ ✓ 你是大卫吗？ 呢 does not make a yes-or-no question; use 吗 for that.
Examples
我们怎么去呢？
So how do we get there?
你想吃什么呢？
What do you feel like eating?
你朋友几点到呢？
So what time does your friend get in?
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 12: 请问，火车站怎么走 (Asking the way)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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