Ask who, what, where, when, why, and how — plus the words that join sentences.

• 什么shénmewhat | 你想吃什么? = What do you want to eat?
• 谁shéi (also shuí)who | 他是谁? = Who is he?
• 哪儿nǎr (also 哪里 nǎlǐ)where | 你住在哪儿? = Where do you live?
• 什么时候shénme shíhouwhen | 你什么时候来? = When are you coming?
• 为什么wèishénmewhy | 你为什么不来? = Why aren't you coming?
• 怎么zěnmehow (in what way) | 这个字怎么写? = How do you write this character?
• 怎么样zěnmeyànghow is it / how about | 今天天气怎么样? = How's the weather today?
• 多少duōshaohow much / how many (larger numbers, no measure word needed) | 这个多少钱? = How much is this?
• 几jǐhow many (small numbers, takes a measure word) | 你有几个孩子? = How many children do you have?
• 哪个nǎge (also něige)which (one) | 你要哪个? = Which one do you want?
• 和héand (joins nouns) | 我和他是朋友。 = He and I are friends.
• 还是háishior (in questions, choosing between options) | 你喝茶还是咖啡? = Do you want tea or coffee?
• 或者huòzhěor (in statements) | 我们可以坐车或者走路。 = We can take the bus or walk.
• 但是dànshìbut | 我很累，但是很开心。 = I'm tired, but happy.
• 因为yīnwèibecause | 因为下雨，我没去。 = Because it rained, I didn't go.
• 吗mayes/no question marker (placed at sentence end) | 你是学生吗? = Are you a student?
• 几点jǐ diǎnwhat time | 现在几点? = What time is it now?
• 怎么办zěnme bànwhat to do / what should we do | 没钱了，怎么办? = We're out of money, what do we do?