HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
呢: “and you?” and ongoing actions
呢 asks “what about…?” after a noun, and also marks an action in progress.
Structure
- Noun + 呢？
- Subject + 在 + verb + 呢
How it works
After a noun or pronoun, 呢 asks the same question about someone or something else: 我很好，你呢？ = I’m fine, and you?
On its own after a noun, it can also ask where something is: 我的手机呢？ = where’s my phone?
At the end of a sentence with 在 or 正在, 呢 shows that an action is in progress: 他在睡觉呢.
Examples
-
我喜欢喝茶，你呢？
Wǒ xǐhuan hē chá, nǐ ne?
I like tea. How about you?
-
我是北京人，你呢？
Wǒ shì Běijīng rén, nǐ ne?
I’m from Beijing. And you?
-
我的书呢？
Wǒ de shū ne?
Where’s my book?
-
妈妈在做饭呢。
Māma zài zuòfàn ne.
Mum is cooking.
-
他们在看电影呢。
Tāmen zài kàn diànyǐng ne.
They are watching a film.
Words in these examples (16)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 呢 | ne | (particle: "what about…?"; also marks an ongoing state) | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 妈妈 | māma | mum; mother | HSK 1 |
| 在 | zài | to be at; at; in; (before a verb) in the middle of doing | HSK 1 |
| 做饭 | zuòfàn | to cook | HSK 1 |
| 他们 | tāmen | they; them | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我很好，你吗？
✓我很好，你呢？
“And you?” is 你呢, not 你吗.
-
✗你呢叫什么名字？
✓你叫什么名字？
呢 goes at the end, after the noun it asks about.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我很忙，你 ？
2. 他在睡觉 ，别打电话。
3. 我的手机 ？你看见了吗？