Question Words

1. 麼个？

   ma2 ge3?

   What?

   Usage

   The basic question word for "what"

   Grammar Note

   Question words stay in place, where the answer would go. Alone, 个 (ge3) means "of"

2. 哪位？

   nai3 vi3?

   Where?

   Usage

   The question word for place

   Grammar Note

   位 marks a place; 在哪位 (cai3 nai3 vi3) is "where is it"

3. 幾時？

   gi2 sii5?

   When?

   Usage

   The question word for time

   Grammar Note

   幾 (gi2) is "how many" and 時 (sii5) is "time"; together "when"

4. 麼人？

   ma2 ngin5?

   Who?

   Usage

   The question word for a person

   Grammar Note

   Built from 麼 plus 人 (ngin5, "person"); Mandarin 誰 is not used

5. 做麼个？

   zo3 ma2 ge3?

   Why? / What for?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason or purpose; it can also mean "what are you doing?"

   Grammar Note

   Literally "do what"; context decides between "why" and "what are you doing"

6. 仰般？

   ngiong2 ban1?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about a way or a state

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary example is "what is the matter with you?". 哪會 (nai3 voi3) is a different word asking "how come"

7. 幾多？

   gi2 do1?

   How many? / How much?

   Usage

   Asks about an amount or a number

   Grammar Note

   Dictionary sense 1 is "how many". Stressed, it can also mean "very many"

8. 幾多錢？

   gi2 do1 qien5?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Asks the price; the basic shopping question

   Grammar Note

   錢 carries tone 5 (yangping). The price itself can also be called 價錢 (ga3 qien5). Composed from dictionary-verified words

9. 哪隻？

   nai3 zag4?

   Which one?

   Usage

   Use it to ask which of several things

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary example is "which one do I like best". 隻 is the classifier for things

10. 這隻係麼个？

    ia2 zag4 he3 ma2 ge3?

    What is this?

    Usage

    Point at an unknown object or dish and ask what it is

    Grammar Note

    "A is B" is A 係 B, and the question word sits where the answer goes. Composed from dictionary-verified words

11. 便所在哪位？

    pien3 so2 cai3 nai3 vi3?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    An essential travel question for finding a toilet

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary example is "I need to pee badly, where is the toilet?". Hakka says 便所 rather than 廁所. 在哪位 also has a variant entry read di3 nai3 vi3

12. 這下幾點鐘？

    ia2 ha3 gi2 diam2 zung1?

    What time is it now?

    Usage

    Asks the time

    Grammar Note

    幾點鐘 is not a headword; it combines 幾 and 點鐘. Composed from dictionary-verified words

13. 有無？

    iu1 mo5?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    Asks "do you have it?" in a shop

    Grammar Note

    The pattern 有…無 forms the question; the dictionary shows it in 聽有無. Composed from dictionary-verified words

14. 做得無？

    zo3 ded4 mo5?

    May I? / Is it okay?

    Usage

    The standard way to ask permission

    Grammar Note

    做得 means "can; may"; its negative is 做毋得 (zo3 m5 ded4)

15. 免費無？

    mien1 fi3 mo5?

    Is it free?

    Usage

    Checks whether something is free of charge

    Grammar Note

    免費 is a headword; a final 無 makes it a question. Composed from dictionary-verified words

16. 好無？

    ho2 mo5?

    Is that okay?

    Usage

    Asks for someone's agreement

    Grammar Note

    Answer with 好 to agree. 好 is read ho2 in the sense "good". Composed from dictionary-verified words

17. 你無事無？

    ngi5 mo5 sii3 mo5?

    Are you all right?

    Usage

    Check on someone who looks unwell or has fallen

    Grammar Note

    無事 is a headword (nothing the matter); the final 無 is the question particle. Composed from dictionary-verified words

18. 你確定無？

    ngi5 kog4 tin3 mo5?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    Double-checks information or a promise

    Grammar Note

    確 is an entering-tone syllable read kog4; 確定 is a headword. Composed from dictionary-verified words

19. 你對哪位來？

    ngi5 di3 nai3 vi3 loi5?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks where someone comes from

    Grammar Note

    對 (di3) is the preposition "from"; the dictionary example is 對哪來. Composed from dictionary-verified words

20. 你喊做麼个名？

    ngi5 ham3 zo3 ma2 ge3 miang5?

    What is your name?

    Usage

    Asks someone's name

    Grammar Note

    Based on the dictionary example 佢喊做麼个名 ("what is he called"), with 你 as subject. Composed from dictionary-verified words

21. 你幾歲？

    ngi5 gi2 se3?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks age; take care when asking a stranger

    Grammar Note

    歲 is read se3; the dictionary lists 幾歲 as an example. Composed from dictionary-verified words

22. 做得共下照相無？

    zo3 ded4 kiung3 ha3 zeu3 xiong3 mo5?

    Can we take a photo together?

    Usage

    Use it to ask a local for a photo together

    Grammar Note

    照相 is a headword; the permission pattern 做得…無 frames the request. Composed from dictionary-verified words

23. 請問，郵局在哪位？

    qiang2 mun3, iu5 kiug8 cai3 nai3 vi3?

    Excuse me, where is the post office?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask directions; swap 郵局 for any destination

    Grammar Note

    Almost identical to the dictionary example; 請問 adds politeness

24. 你會講客話無？

    ngi5 voi3 gong2 hag4 fa3 mo5?

    Do you speak Hakka?

    Usage

    Asks whether someone speaks Hakka

    Grammar Note

    客話 is the dictionary headword; 客語 is the Mandarin term. Composed from dictionary-verified words

Browse all TravelPhrases languages