WH-Questions Expanded: 什么时候, 什么样, 为什么, 怎么样, 怎样
用"什么时候、什么样、为什么、怎么样、怎样"提问
Ask about time, type, reason, and manner using expanded question words
These question words replace the information you want to know, staying in the same position as the answer would be. Unlike English, Chinese does not move question words to the front.
Remember: in Chinese, question words stay in situ — they sit in the same position where the answer goes. 你什么时候来？→ 我明天来。The question word (什么时候) and the answer (明天) are in the same position.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: WH-Questions Expanded: 什么时候, 什么样, 为什么, 怎么样, 怎样 (用"什么时候、什么样、为什么、怎么样、怎样"提问)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 用"什么时候、什么样、为什么、怎么样、怎样"提问 pattern
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Understanding 用"什么时候、什么样、为什么、怎么样、怎样"提问
In HSK 1, you learned basic question words: 什么, 谁, 哪儿, 几, 多少. Now you are expanding your toolkit. 什么时候 asks "when" and is essential for making plans. 什么样 asks "what kind" and helps you describe preferences. 为什么 asks "why" — the question every curious learner needs. 怎么样 asks for opinions ("How is it?") while 怎样 asks about methods ("In what way?"). The most important rule: Chinese question words do not move. In English you say "When are you coming?" moving "when" to the front. In Chinese: 你什么时候来？ — the question word stays where the answer would go. This is true for ALL Chinese question words and is one of the most fundamental differences from English.
Key Points
- 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) = "when" — asks about time: 你什么时候来？
- 什么样 (shénme yàng) = "what kind / what type" — asks about characteristics: 你喜欢什么样的？
- 为什么 (wèishénme) = "why" — asks for reasons: 你为什么不去？
- 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) = "how is it" — asks for opinions or conditions: 天气怎么样？
- 怎样 (zěnyàng) = "in what way / how" — asks about method: 你怎样去学校？
- All question words stay in the position where the answer would be — no word-order change.
- 为什么 can go before or after the subject: 为什么你不去？ = 你为什么不去？
Chinese people often ask 最近怎么样？(How have you been lately?) as a greeting. The expected answer is usually positive: 还好 (not bad) or 挺好的 (pretty good). This is similar to "How are you?" in English — the question is social, not a deep inquiry.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
你们什么时候见面？
When are you meeting?
你喜欢什么样的朋友？
What kind of friends do you like?
你为什么没去上课？
Why did you not go to class?
明天天气怎么样？
How will the weather be tomorrow?
你明天怎样去学校？
How are you getting to school tomorrow?
你什么时候开始学中文的？
When did you start learning Chinese?
你想买什么样的手机？
What kind of phone do you want to buy?
你觉得这部电影怎么样？
What do you think of this movie?
Common Mistakes
While not strictly wrong, the natural word order places 什么时候 after the subject, where the time word would normally go in the answer.
Time words (明天) typically come before or after the subject. The natural order is: 明天 + 天气 + 怎么样.
Question words stay in situ in Chinese. 怎么样 goes where the answer would go, at the end: 你觉得这个怎么样？→ 我觉得这个很好。
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Remember: Chinese question words STAY where the answer goes. Never move them to the front of the sentence.
怎么样 for opinions (how is it?), 怎样 for methods (how to do it?) — do not mix them up.
Practice with daily life: 你什么时候吃饭？明天天气怎么样？你为什么学中文？
什么样 is great for shopping: 你想买什么样的？(What kind do you want to buy?)
Homework
Write two questions for each question word (10 total). Then answer each of your own questions. This helps you see how the question word and answer occupy the same position.