Ask what and who

A book or a person?

• 这是zhè shìwhat什么shén me？ Zhè shì shénme? — What is this?
• this这zhèto be / is是shìwho谁shéi？ Zhè shì shéi? — Who is this? this这zhè zhè means this; who谁shéi asks about a person.

Keep the information slot

• Compare this这zhèto be / is是shìbook书shū。 — This is a book. with 这是zhè shìwhat什么shén me？ — What is this? what什么shén me replaces the information you want.
• Compare she / her她tāto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī。 with who谁shéito be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī？ — Who is a teacher? Here who谁shéi replaces the person, so it is already at the front.

Give the requested information

• 这是zhè shìwhat什么shén me？ → this这zhèto be / is是shìbook书shū。 Zhè shì shū. this这zhèto be / is是shìwho谁shéi？ → 这是zhè shì林安lín ān。 Zhè shì Lín Ān.
• A name question needs a name; a what-question needs the thing. Replying to be / is是shì alone does not supply that information.

Find the question word

• Play and decide whether the speaker asks about a person or thing.
• who谁shéi can be read shéi or shuí; this course uses shéi in the examples. what什么shén me shénme has a second-tone first syllable and a light second syllable.

Ask about your surroundings

• Point to a book and ask 这是zhè shìwhat什么shén me？ Answer this这zhèto be / is是shìbook书shū。 Ask about a pictured classmate with this这zhèto be / is是shìwho谁shéi？
• Mix these with the name and identity questions you already know. Choose the question for the information you actually want.

Next: put the conversation together.