Questions with 呢 (and you? / where?)
"And you?" — the bounce-back
- (and …? / softener)呢 turns a noun into a quick return question.
- Someone asks hello你好(yes/no ?)吗? You answer, then: you你(and …? / softener)呢? = "and you?"
- It also asks "where is …?": I / me我(of / 's)的book书(and …? / softener)呢?
Noun + (and …? / softener)呢?
- X (and …? / softener)呢? = "what about X? / and X?"
I我fine很好，you你呢？
- I / me我very很good好，you你(and …? / softener)呢？ = "I'm fine, and you?"
Practice
I'm fine, and you? 我很好,你 ____?
X 呢? = what about X?: 你呢? (and you?).
Practice
你呢? is a quick way to ask “and you?”.
Yes: after answering, 你呢? bounces the question back.
Practice
Build: “I'm fine, and you?”
Clause，Noun + 呢: 我很好 + 你 + 呢?
"Where is …?"
- X (and …? / softener)呢? alone can mean "where is X?".
my我的keys钥匙呢？
- I / me我(of / 's)的key钥匙(and …? / softener)呢？ = "where are my keys?"
Explore
Correct or broken?
呢 bounces a question back, hunts for missing things, and softens what's-happening questions.
Practice
What can 我的书呢? mean?
X 呢? alone = “where is X?”: 我的书呢?
Recap
Key idea
- Noun + (and …? / softener)呢? — "what about / and …?": you你(and …? / softener)呢?
- Also "where is …?": I / me我(of / 's)的book书(and …? / softener)呢?
- A short, natural follow-up question
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Particles.