Softening questions with 呢
Softening a question with (and …? / softener)呢
- (and …? / softener)呢 can soften a question or leave it gently hanging.
- you你to feel / think觉得(and …? / softener)呢？ = "what do you think?"
- this这个(and …? / softener)呢？ = "and this one?"
Question / Topic + (and …? / softener)呢 ？
- (and …? / softener)呢 turns a topic into a soft, open question.
you你think觉得呢？
- you你to feel / think觉得(and …? / softener)呢？ = "what do you think (then)?"
Explore
Correct or broken?
呢 cushions a question-word question, making it thoughtful rather than blunt.
Practice
What do you think? 你觉得 ____?
Question + 呢 softens it: 你觉得呢?
Practice
呢 can also mean “and …?” (这个呢?).
Yes — 这个呢? = and this one?
Recap
Key idea
- Question / Topic + (and …? / softener)呢? — softens or opens a question
- you你to feel / think觉得(and …? / softener)呢? · this这个(and …? / softener)呢?
- Gentler than a bare question; can also mark "and …?"
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Particles.
Practice
呢 here makes the question…
你觉得呢? is gentler than a blunt 你觉得怎么样?