Questions
Questions can be broadly classified into two types: those which use interrogative pronouns (“who”, “what”, “which”, etc.) to request specific information, and those which can be replied with a simple “yes” or “no”.
Contents
- Interrogative pronouns
- “Who” and “whose” – di7diang1 • 哋㐱 or diang1 • 㐱
- “What” – mih4 • 乜 and derivatives, di7gai5 • 哋個
- “Which” – di7zêg8(4)gai5 • 哋一個; compounds of di7 • 哋
- “Where” – di7go3 • 哋塊
- “When” – diang1si5 • 珍時
- “How”, “Why” – zo3(2)ni5•做呢
- “How many” and “how much” – gui2 • 幾 and riêh8(4)zoi7 • 若濟
- “How” – zai7dêg4 • 怎得 and zai7sên1 • 怎生
- Particle nê7 • 呢/呤
- Yes-no questions – V-NOT-V pattern
- Yes-no questions – Clause-negative pattern
- Yes/no questions – Interrogative particles
- Yes/No questions - kah4 豈 questions
- Interrogative particles – nê5 呢 questions
- Expressing skepticism
- References and further reading
Interrogative pronouns
In English, the word order changes between a statement and its corresponding question form, such as in the following question-answer pair:
How many* apples *are there on the table?
There are five apples on the table.
The interrogative pronoun “how many” is brought to the front of the sentence when it is a question.
In Teochew and other Chinese languages, the interrogative pronoun and the noun that it is standing in for can simply be swapped out for each other, without changing the word order in the rest of the sentence:
lɯ⁵³kai¹¹ lau¹¹pe¹¹ si¹¹ ti¹¹tiaŋ³³
Le2gai5(7) lao6(7)bê6(7) si6(7) di7diang1?
汝個 老爸 是 哋㐱？
You-CL father is who?
Who is your daddy?
***
ua⁵³kai¹¹ lau¹¹pe¹¹ si¹¹ taŋ³³kim³³ tsoŋ³⁵li⁵³**
Ua2gai5(7) lao6(7)pê6(7) si6(7) dang1gim1 zong2(6)li2.
我個 老爸 是 當今 總理。
I-CL father is present prime-minister.
My daddy is the incumbent prime minister.
The interrogative pronouns in Teochew are summarized in the following table:
| Definition | IPA | Peng’im | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| who, whose | ti¹¹tiaŋ³³ | di7diang1 | 哋㐱 |
| what | si¹¹miʔ² | si6(7)mih4 | 是乜 |
| what | ti¹¹kai⁵⁵ | di7gai5 | 哋個 |
| what thing | miʔ⁵kai⁵⁵ | mih4(8)gai5 | 乜個 |
| what manner | miʔ⁵sẽ³³ĩẽ¹¹ | mih4(8)sên1iên7 | 乜生樣 |
| what situation | miʔ⁵sɯ¹¹ | mih4(8)se7 | 乜事 |
| which one | ti¹¹tsek²kai⁵⁵ | di7zêg8(4)gai5 | 哋一個 |
| where | ti¹¹ko²¹³ | di7go3 | 哋塊 |
| when | tiaŋ³³si⁵⁵ | diang1si5 | 珍時 |
| how | tso⁵³ni⁵⁵ | zo3(2)ni5 | 做呢 |
| how many | kui⁵³ | gui2 | 幾 |
| how many | zieʔ²tsoi¹¹ | riêh8(4)zoi7 | 若濟 |
“Who” and “whose” – di7diang1 • 哋㐱 or diang1 • 㐱
NB: diang1 is usually printed with U+2B897 but this character is missing from many fonts, and is replaced here with 㐱.
“Whose” is formed by adding the genitive particle gai5 個
tsi⁵³puŋ³⁵ tsɯ³³ si¹¹ ti¹¹tiaŋ³³ kai¹¹
Zi2bung2(6) ze1 si6(7) di7diang1-gai7?
只本 書 是 哋㐱個？
This-CL book is who-GEN?
Whose book is this?
***
tsi³³puŋ³⁵ tsɯ³³ si¹¹ i³³ kai¹¹
Zi2bung2(6) ze1 si6(7) i1-gai7
只本 書 是 伊個
This-CL book is he-GEN
This book is his.
In Hokkien “who” is siánn-lâng 啥人, often contracted to siánng.
“What” – mih4 • 乜 and derivatives, di7gai5 • 哋個
- miʔ² • mih4 • 乜 • “what” generally
- si¹¹miʔ² • si7mih4 • 是乜 • “what” generally
- ti¹¹kai⁵⁵ • di7gai5 • 哋個 • “what” generally
- miʔ²kai⁵⁵ • mih4gai5 • 乜個 • “what thing”
The following statements are more or less equivalent:
lɯ⁵³ lo³⁵sɯŋ⁵³ ti¹¹kai⁵⁵
Le2 lo6seng2 di7gai5?
汝 囉耍 哋個？
***
lɯ⁵³ lo³⁵sɯŋ⁵³ si¹¹miʔ² (kai⁵⁵)
Le2 lo6seng2 si6(7)mih4 (gai5)?
汝 囉耍 是乜（個）？
***
lɯ⁵³ lo³⁵sɯŋ⁵³ miʔ²kai⁵⁵
Le2 lo6seng2 mih4gai5?
汝 囉耍 乜個？
***
You PRG+play what?
What (thing) are you playing with?
mih4gai5 can also mean “anything”:
i³³ miʔ²kai⁵⁵ loŋ³⁵ ai⁵³ tsiaʔ⁵
I1 mih4gai5 long2(6) ai3(2) ziah8.
伊 乜個 攏 愛 食。
He anything all want eat.
He’ll eat anything.
Other derivatives of mih4 乜:
- miʔ²sẽ³³ĩẽ¹¹ • mih4sên1iên7 • 乜生樣 • “what manner”
- miʔ²sɯ¹¹ • mih4se7 • 乜事 • “what occurrence/situation”
niŋ⁵³ mũã³⁵zik⁵ tso⁵³ miʔ²sɯ¹¹
Ning2 muan2(6)rig8 zo3(2) mih4se7?
恁 ～日 做 乜事？
You-pl. tomorrow do what-thing?
What are you all up to tomorrow?
mih4 can also be used as an adverb to mean “a little bit” (see “Comparisons”).
“Which” – di7zêg8(4)gai5 • 哋一個; compounds of di7 • 哋
Di7zêg8(4)gai5 哋一個 is clearly derived from di7gai5 哋個.
tsi⁵³tsʰoʔ² mueʔ² ti¹¹tsek²kai⁵⁵ siaŋ¹¹ ŋia⁵³ ne⁵⁵
Zi2coh8(4)-muêh8(4) di7zêg8(4)gai5 siang6(7)ngia2 nê5?
只撮物 哋一個 上雅 ne5？
These-things which-one most-pretty SFP?
Which of these is the prettiest?
Di7 哋 can be compounded with category nouns to ask the question “which of this category?” For example:
i³³ si¹¹ ti¹¹kok² naŋ⁵⁵
I1 si6(7) di7gog4 nang5?
伊 是 哋國 儂？
He is which-country person?
Which country is he from?
“Where” – di7go3 • 哋塊
lau³³kuŋ³³tsʰu²¹³ to¹¹ ti¹¹ko²¹³
Lao1gung1cu3 do6(7) di7go3?
老君厝 在 哋塊？
Doctor-house [Hospital] located where?
Where is the hospital?
The possible responses “here” and “there” both contain go3 塊
- tsi⁵³ko²¹³ • zi2go3 • 只塊 • “here”
- hɯ⁵³ko²¹³ • he2ko3 • 許塊 • “there”
The Hokkien equivalent to di7go3 is tó-loh 佗落.
“When” – diang1si5 • 珍時
lɯ⁵³ tiaŋ³³si¹¹ ai⁵³kʰɯ⁵³ hiaŋ³³kaŋ⁵³
Le2 diang1si5(7) ai3(2)ke3(2) Hiang1gang2?
汝 珍時 愛去 香港？
You when want-go Hong Kong?
When do you want to go to Hong Kong?
***
ua⁵³ e¹¹kai¹¹gueʔ⁵ tsĩã⁵³ kʰɯ²¹³
Ua2 ê6(7)gai5(7)ghuêh8 zian3(2) ke3
我 下個 月 正 去
I next-month then go
I’m only going next month
To ask for the clock time, use kui6tiam2 幾點, see below.
“How”, “Why” – zo3(2)ni5•做呢
Zo3(2)ni5 做呢 can be used to mean both “how” (what method/manner) and “why” (what reason).
ou¹¹ni⁵⁵ si¹¹ tso⁵³ni¹¹ tsɯ⁵³ kai¹¹ ne⁵⁵
Ou5(7)ni5 si6(7) zo3(2)ni5(7) ze2-gai5(7) nê5?
芋泥 是 做呢 煮個 ne？
Yam-paste is how cook-X ne?
How do you cook yam paste?
***
lɯ⁵³ tso⁵³ni¹¹ tsie⁵³sẽ³³ ũã²¹³ tsĩã⁵³ tɯŋ⁵³lai¹¹
Le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) ziê3(2)sên1-uan3 zian3(2) deng2lai7?
汝 做呢 照生 晏 正 轉來？
You why so late then come-back?
Why are you home so late?1
zo2ni5(7)muêh4 • 做呢物 • “What is to be done?”
na¹¹ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ ai⁵³ tsʰuk⁵kok² / lɯ⁵³ kai¹¹ kau⁵³ tso⁵³ni¹¹mueʔ²
Na7-si6(7) le2 ai3(2) cug4(8)kok4, le2-gai5(7) gau2 zo2ni5(7)muêh4?
哪是 汝 愛 出國，汝個 狗 做呢物？
If you want travel, you-GEN dog how-do?
What will be done about your dog, if you want to go traveling abroad?
“How many” and “how much” – gui2 • 幾 and riêh8(4)zoi7 • 若濟
Countable nouns use the interrogative gui2 幾 + [classifier].
lɯ⁵³ u¹¹ kui³⁵ kai¹¹ hĩã³³ti³⁵ tse³⁵mui¹¹
Le2 u6(7) gui2(6)-gai5(7) hian1di6-ze2(6)mui7?
汝 有 幾個 兄弟姐妹？
You have [how-many]-CL brothers-sisters?
How many siblings do you have?
***
tse³⁵tsuŋ⁵⁵ kui³⁵tiam⁵³
Zê2(6)zung5 gui2(6)diam2?
這陣 幾點？
Now [how-many]-hours?
What is the time?
Uncountable quantities use the interrogative riêh8 若 + [adjective], generically riêh4(8)zoi7 若濟 “how much”.
lɯ⁵³kai¹¹ kĩã⁵³ u¹¹ tʰaŋ⁵³ zieʔ²tsoi¹¹ tsĩ⁵⁵
Le2gai5(7) gian2 u6(7) tang3(2) riêh8(4)zoi7 zin5?
汝個 兒 有 賺 若濟 錢？
You-CL child have earn how-much money?
How much does your child earn?2
***
tʰoi⁵³ ui³³seŋ³³ ai⁵³ taŋ⁵³ zieʔ² ku⁵³
Toi2(6) ui1sêng1 ai3(2) dang2 riêh8(4) gu2?
睇 醫生 愛 等 若 久？
See doctor want wait how-much-long?
How long is the wait to see a doctor?
rieh8(4)zoi7 若濟 can also be used for countable nouns instead of gui2 幾.
The Hokkien lōa 偌 or lōa-chōe 偌濟 may sometimes be substituted by people who speak both languages.
“How” – zai7dêg4 • 怎得 and zai7sên1 • 怎生
Particle nê7 • 呢/呤
Questions with interrogative pronouns can optionally end with the particle nê7 呢/呤, which functions very much like the Mandarin nē 呢. Because of how quickly it is pronounced and the use of tonal inflections for emphasis, the tone of this particle will vary with speaker and context. See “Interrogative particles” below.
Yes-no questions – V-NOT-V pattern
Mandarin primarily uses the V-NOT-V construction for yes-no questions:
Zhè zhī shǒujī shìbùshì nǐde?
這支 手機 是不是 你的？
This-CL handphone is-NOT-is you-GEN?
Is this your handphone?
***
Nǐ yàobùyào gēn wǒmén chūqù?
你 要不要 跟 我們 出去？
You want-NOT-want with us go-out?
Do you want to go out with us?
Cantonese uses a similar pattern, e.g. haih-m-haih 係唔係 is-NOT-is.
In Teochew, the V-NOT-V pattern is not as prevalent as in Mandarin. The first example above can be translated quite directly:
tsi⁵³ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹m¹¹si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7)m6(7)si6(7) le2-gai5?
只支 手機 是唔是 汝個？
This-CL handphone is-NOT-is you-GEN?
si6(7)m6(7)si6 *是唔是 can be replaced by *gah4(8)si6 豈是.
The short answer to a yes-no question is either the verb or its negation. In the example above, this would be si6 是 if yes, and m6(7)si6 唔是 if not.
The V-NOT-V pattern is more common in short questions, e.g.
tieʔ² m¹¹ tieʔ⁵
Diêh8(4)m6(7)diêh8?
着唔着
correct-NOT-correct?
Is this correct?
***
“Yes”: tieʔ⁵ • diêh8 • 着
“No”: m¹¹tieʔ⁵ • m6(7)diêh8 • 唔着
***
lɯ⁵³ sek⁵m¹¹sek² zi¹¹
Le2 sêg4(8)m6(7)sêg4 ri7?
汝 識唔識 字？
you read-NOT-read words?
Are you literate?
***
“Yes”: sek² • sêg4 • 識
“No”: m¹¹sek² • m6(7)sêg4 • 唔識
Words which take specific negative forms use those forms instead of the pattern V + m6 唔 + V (see “Negatives”):
lɯ⁵³ ai²¹³mai²¹³
Le2 ai3mai3?
汝 愛勿？
you want-NEG?
Do you want it or not?
***
“Yes”: ai²¹³ • ai3 • 愛
“No”: mai²¹³ • mai3 • 勿
The pair ho2mo2 好孬 “should-shouldn’t” can be used at the end of a sentence to seek confirmation or approval of a suggestion.
naŋ⁵³ mũã³⁵zik⁵ kʰɯ⁵³ tĩẽ⁵³hɯ⁵⁵ / ho⁵³mo⁵³
Nang2 muan2(6)zig8 ke3(2) diên3(2)he5, ho2mo2?
俺 ～日 去 釣魚，好孬？
We-incl. tomorrow go fishing, should-shouldn’t?
How about we go fishing tomorrow?
Yes-no questions – Clause-negative pattern
Another way to form a yes-no question is to add a negative (see “Negatives”) to the end of the clause.
Compare “or not” in Singaporean English: “He got wear trousers or not?”.
i³³ u¹¹ tsʰeŋ¹¹kʰou¹¹ a³³bo⁵⁵
I1 u6(7) cêng7kou7 a1bho5?
伊 有 穿褲 呀無？
He have wear-pants or-NEG?
Was he wearing pants?
This pattern would not be idiomatic in Mandarin: *Tā yǒu chuānkù huòméi? *他 有 穿褲 或沒？One would instead use the A-NOT-A pattern: Tā yǒuméiyǒu chuānkù? 他 有沒有 穿褲？
A more commonplace example:
lɯ⁵³ u¹¹ tsiah² a³³ bo⁵⁵
Le2 u6(7)-ziah8(4) a1bho5?
汝 有食 呀無？
You have-eat or-NEG?
Did you eat?
The negative can either be preceded by a1 呀 or not. If a1 呀 is omitted, then the negative takes a low tone: Le2 ziah8(4)ba2-lou7 bho5?
General purpose – a1bho5 • 呀無
tsi⁵³ ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵ a³³ bo⁵⁵
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7) le2-gai5 a1bo5?
只支 手機 是 汝個 呀無？
This-CL handphone is you-GEN or-NEG?
An alternative to a1bo5 is a1mi6 呀~.
“Yet” – a1bhuê7 • 呀未
To ask if an action has been started or completed yet.
lɯ⁵³ tsiaʔ²pa⁵³ lou¹¹ bue¹¹
Le2 ziah8(4)ba2-lou7 bhuê7?
汝 食飽𡀔 未？
You eat-PERF NEG?
Have you eaten yet?
Likelihood – a1bhoi6 • 呀[不會]
Usually paired with the verb oi6 會 “can/will”.
lɯ⁵³ oi¹¹hiau³⁵ tsɯ³⁵ ou¹¹ni⁵⁵ a³³boi³⁵
Le2 oi6(7)hiao2(6) ze2(6) ou5(7)ni5 a1bhoi6?
汝 會曉 煮 芋泥 呀[不+會]？
You able-know cook yam-paste or-NEG?
Do you know how to cook yam paste or not?
Preference – a1mai3 • 呀勿
Usually paired with the verb ai3 愛 “want”.
lɯ⁵³ ai⁵³tsiaʔ² ou¹¹ni⁵⁵ a³³ mai²¹³
Le2 ai3(2)ziah8(4) ou5(7)ni5 a1mai3?
汝 愛食 芋泥 呀勿？
You want-eat yam-paste or-NEG?
Do you want to eat yam paste?
Yes/no questions – Interrogative particles
The more common way to phrase yes-no questions in Teochew is by adding an interrogative particle or negative at the end of the sentence or clause. Mandarin also has particles of this sort, e.g. mā 嗎. The different particles convey different shades of meaning.
See “Particles” for the use of particles in general.
Particle mê7 • [口+乜] – Yes/no
The first Mandarin example from the previous section can be rephrased:
tsi⁵³ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵ me¹¹
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7)le2-gai5 me7?
只支 手機 是 汝個 me7？
This-CL handphone is you-GEN SFP?
Is this your handphone?
If the interrogative particle is removed, what remains is a sentence that could serve as an affirmative answer to the question.
Particle mê5 • [口+乜] – Expressing skepticism
Changing the tone from me7 to me5 expresses skepticism:
tsi⁵³ ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵ me⁵⁵
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7)le2-gai5 me5?
只支 手機 是 汝個 me5？
This-CL handphone is you-GEN SFP?
Are you sure that this is your handphone?
Particle han2 • 𠳝 – Seeking confirmation
When the question refers to an earlier statement, or a fact that is understood from context, and which can be confirmed by a simple yes-no answer:
tsi⁵³ ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵ hã⁵³
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7)le2-gai5 han2?
只支 手機 是 汝個 𠳝？
This-CL handphone is you-GEN SFP?
This is your handphone, right?
Yes/No questions - kah4 豈 questions
Another way to phrase yes/no type questions is with the adverb kah4 豈 (also written 𠹛), which prefixes a verb: kah4+V. The verb involved is often the copula si6 是 “to be”.
i³³ kʰaʔ⁸ si¹¹ nia³³ ti²⁵
i1 kah4(8)si6(7) nia1-di6?
伊 豈是 ～弟？
He KAH-is your younger-brother?
Is he your younger brother?
(Example 49 from Yue 2017)
Unlike the other types of yes/no questions above, kah4 questions usually do not include a negative.
Other types or verbs or auxiliary verbs can also follow kah4:
tsʰĩã²⁵ muŋ¹¹ lɯ⁵² kʰaʔ⁵ pak⁵ tsi⁵² kai¹¹ tiam²¹³ kai¹¹ tʰau¹¹ ke³³
cian2(6)mung7 le2 kah4(8)bag4(8) zi2gai5(7) diam3 gai7 tao5(7)gê1?
請問 汝 豈捌 只間 店 個 頭家？
Please-ask you KAH-know this-CL shop CL boss?
May I ask if you know the proprietor of this shop?
(Example 1:14 from Goh 2018)
kah4(8)oi6(7)bag4 豈會捌 may be used in place of kah4(8)bag4 in the example above, with the auxiliary verb oi6 “able to” immediately after kah4.
The question particle mê (also pronounced mi) may also be used at the end of a kah4+V question. This has been analyzed as a hybrid kah+V+NEG construction (Yue, 2017).
Yue (1991) discusses how kah+V questions in Southern Min languages may have originated from similar constructions seen in Ming-era Southern Min play scripts.
Interrogative particles – nê5 呢 questions
The particle nê5 does not necessarily accompany a yes-no type question.
Particle nê5 • 呢 – Reciprocal questions
If a question has already been asked and answered, but now the speaker would like to apply the same question to a new subject, like the Mandarin nē. nê5 is also written with the character 呤.
tsi⁵³ ki³³ tsʰiu³⁵ki³³ si¹¹ lɯ⁵³ kai⁵⁵ / hɯ⁵³ kai¹¹ ne⁵⁵
Zi2-gi1 ciu2(6)gi1 si6(7) le2-gai5. He2gai5(7) nê5?
只支 手機 是 汝個。 許個 呢？
This-CL handphone is you-GEN. That SFP?
This is your handphone. What about that one?
Particle nê5 • 呢 – “Softening” questions
The particle nê5 can also be added to most questions, which do not already use one of the particles above, to “soften” the question so that it does not sound so abrupt.
lɯ⁵³ tso⁵³ni¹¹ muŋ¹¹ tsie⁵³sẽ³³ tsoi¹¹ ne⁵⁵
Le2 zo3(2)ni5(7) mung7 ziê3(2)sên1 zoi7 nê5?
汝 做呢 問 照生 濟 呢？
You why ask this-manner much SFP?
Why do you ask so many questions?
Expressing skepticism
In addition to the particle mê5 [口+乜] (see above), there are some set phrases used to express skepticism.
u¹¹ ĩã⁵³ bo³⁵
U6(7) ian3(2) bho6?
有 影 無？
Have earnest NEG?
Are you serious?
***
tsiŋ³³ sek⁵ kai¹¹ me⁵⁵
Zing1sêg8-gai5(7) mê5?
真實個 me5?
Real-CL SFP?
Is this for real?
References and further reading
- Chappell, Hilary (2017), A sketch of Southern Min grammar
- Xu Hui Ling 許惠玲 (2007), Aspect of Chaozhou grammar, Chapter 10
- Yue, Anne O. (2003), Chinese dialects: Grammar
- Yue, Anne O. (2017), The Sinitic languages: Grammar
- Yue-Hashimoto, Anne O. (1991), Stratification in comparative dialectal grammar
Chinese New Year.