Question words as “some- / any-”
"Something", "someone" — vague on purpose
- Question words aren't only for questions.
- Said plainly, they mean "some- / any-": what什么 = "something", who谁 = "someone".
- I / me我want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃point点what什么 = "I want to eat something."
Question Word = "some- / any-"
- In a statement, a question word is left deliberately vague.
I我want想eat吃a bit点something什么。
- want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃point点what什么 = "want to eat something."
Practice
In 我想吃点什么, what does 什么 mean?
In a statement, 什么 = “something”, not a question.
Practice
I want to eat something: 我想吃点 ____。
A question word in a statement = some-: 吃点什么 = eat something.
Context tells you which
- who谁 = "someone", where哪儿 = "somewhere", what什么time时候 = "sometime".
Explore
Correct or broken?
The same question words can mean some-/any- — no asking involved. Read the sentence's job.
Practice
A question word always needs a question mark.
Not here — in a statement it just means “some- / any-” (no “?”).
Practice
Match each question word to its indefinite meaning.
In statements: 什么 something · 谁 someone · 哪儿 somewhere.
Recap
Key idea
- A question word in a statement = "some- / any-": what什么 (something), who谁 (someone)
- I / me我want / think / miss想variant of 吃吃point点what什么 = I want to eat something
- No question mark — it's deliberately vague
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Basic sentence patterns.