Yes-no questions with 吗
Add 吗 to a statement to turn it into a basic yes-no question.
Examples
Mandarin ChineseTranslation
你喜欢咖啡吗？Nǐ xǐhuan kāfēi ma?
Do you like coffee?
他今天来吗？Tā jīntiān lái ma?
Is he coming today?
你忙吗？Nǐ máng ma?
Are you busy?
Pattern
statement + 吗
How it works
Add 吗 to a statement to turn it into a basic yes-no question. This pattern typically appears as statement + 吗 and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The core statement shape usually stays the same.
- 吗 simply turns the sentence into a yes-no question.
Why it matters
Ask simple questions and place information naturally.
Use in context
This is one of the cleanest beginner patterns in Mandarin and shows up constantly in early dialogue.