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Yes / no questions with 吗

In Chinese, 吗 (ma) is the modal particle that marks a question.

It normally comes at the end of the sentence and turns a statement into a question answered with yes or no.

Basic structure

Statement + 吗？
Meaning: …?
你(Nǐ)也(yě)很(hěn)忙(máng)吗(ma)？
Are you very busy too?

Structure

你也很忙 + 吗？ you are very busy too + ?
你(nǐ)you
也(yě)also
很(hěn)忙(máng)very busy
吗(ma)question particle
你(Nǐ)是(shì)他(tā)的(de)中(Zhōng)文(wén)老(lǎo)师(shī)吗(ma)？
Are you his Chinese teacher?

Structure

你是他的中文老师 + 吗？ you are his Chinese teacher + ?
你(nǐ)you
是(shì)be
他(tā)的(de)his
中(Zhōng)文(wén)老(lǎo)师(shī)Chinese teacher
吗(ma)question particle
你(Nǐ)有(yǒu)姐(jiě)姐(jie)吗(ma)？
Do you have an older sister?

Structure

你有姐姐 + 吗？ you have an older sister + ?
你(nǐ)you
有(yǒu)have
姐(jiě)姐(jie)older sister
吗(ma)question particle

The rule in short

Add 吗 to a plain statement and it becomes a yes / no question.

Statement + 吗？

Examples:

你(Nǐ)也(yě)很(hěn)忙(máng)吗(ma)？
Are you very busy too?
你(Nǐ)是(shì)他(tā)的(de)中(Zhōng)文(wén)老(lǎo)师(shī)吗(ma)？
Are you his Chinese teacher?
你(Nǐ)有(yǒu)姐(jiě)姐(jie)吗(ma)？
Do you have an older sister?