Interrogative Pronoun: 何 (what/when — formal)
疑问代词：何
Understand and use the formal interrogative pronoun 何 and its compound forms in written and elevated Chinese
何 functions as a formal interrogative pronoun meaning "what" or "which." It combines with other characters to form compound question words: 何时 (when), 何处 (where), 何人 (who), 为何 (why), 如何 (how). These are literary equivalents of everyday question words.
何 is the Classical Chinese interrogative that survives in modern formal registers. While 什么, 哪里, 谁 are used in speech, 何 and its compounds appear in formal writing, legal texts, literary works, and rhetorical questions.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Interrogative Pronoun: 何 (what/when — formal) (疑问代词：何)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 疑问代词：何 pattern
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Understanding 疑问代词：何
You already know 什么 (what), 哪里 (where), 谁 (who), 为什么 (why), and 怎么 (how). Now meet their classical ancestor: 何 (hé). This single character is one of the most important interrogative words in Classical Chinese, and it remains very much alive in modern formal and literary language. When a lawyer writes 该犯何时离开现场, or when a poet asks 人生如何, the word 何 gives the question a weight and formality that 什么 cannot match. The compound forms are especially useful: 何时 (when — formal), 何处 (where — formal), 何人 (who — formal), 为何 (why — formal), 如何 (how — formal). You will encounter these constantly in newspapers, academic writing, and formal speeches. Mastering 何 is like learning to use "wherefore" or "whence" in English — it marks you as someone comfortable with the full range of Chinese expression.
Key Points
- 何 (hé) = "what / which" — formal interrogative, used in writing and elevated speech.
- 何时 (héshí) = "when" — formal equivalent of 什么时候.
- 何处 (héchù) = "where" — formal equivalent of 哪里/哪儿.
- 何人 (hérén) = "who" — formal equivalent of 谁.
- 为何 (wèihé) = "why" — formal equivalent of 为什么.
- 如何 (rúhé) = "how" — formal equivalent of 怎么/怎么样.
- 何 is frequently used in rhetorical questions: 何必呢？(Why bother?), 何乐而不为？(Why not enjoy it?)
- 何 + noun pattern: 有何疑问 (have what doubts), 何种方式 (what kind of method).
The use of 何 in modern Chinese reflects the deep continuity between Classical Chinese (文言文) and the contemporary written language. Many set phrases containing 何 — such as 何去何从 (what path to take), 何乐而不为 (why not do it) — are still used daily, showing how classical vocabulary enriches modern expression.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我们何时出发？
When do we depart?
Formal — used in written plans or official contexts
不管你有何疑问，都可以到办公室找我。
No matter what questions you have, you can come find me at the office.
他为何突然辞职？
Why did he suddenly resign?
如何提高学习效率是学生们关心的问题。
How to improve study efficiency is an issue students care about.
此事与何人有关？
Who is this matter related to?
何必为这种小事生气呢？
Why bother getting angry over such a small thing?
Rhetorical question — very common expression
你打算用何种方式解决这个问题？
What method do you plan to use to solve this problem?
事故发生在何处？
Where did the accident occur?
Common Mistakes
何时 is already a complete word meaning "when." Do not add 候 — that would be mixing 什么时候 with 何时.
何 alone does not mean "when" or "how" before a verb. Use the compound forms 何时 (when) or 如何 (how).
何 is not used as a direct object in casual speech the way 什么 is. In everyday conversation, stick with 什么. 何 appears in fixed formal patterns.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Learn the five key compounds as a set: 何时 (when), 何处 (where), 何人 (who), 为何 (why), 如何 (how) — they map exactly to 什么时候, 哪里, 谁, 为什么, 怎么.
Use 何必 in conversation — it is one of the few 何 compounds that sounds natural in spoken Chinese: 何必呢？(Why bother?)
When reading Chinese news, circle every 何 compound you find. This builds passive recognition before you start using them actively.
In formal writing assignments, replace one or two instances of 什么/为什么 with 何/为何 to practice register-shifting.
Homework
Rewrite the following casual questions in formal register using 何 compounds: (1) 你什么时候毕业？ (2) 他为什么不来？ (3) 你在哪里工作？ (4) 这件事跟谁有关？ (5) 怎么解决这个问题？ Then write three original sentences using 何必.