Non-Interrogative Use of Interrogative Pronouns (1)
Meaning
In Chinese, interrogative pronouns such as 哪儿 (nǎr), 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), and 哪 (nǎ) are not always used to ask questions.
They can also be used in declarative sentences to refer to an unspecified or unknown place, thing, or person.
In this usage, they can often be translated as:
哪儿 → somewhere / anywhere
什么 → something / anything
谁 → someone / anyone
哪 → some / any
Basic Rule
Interrogative Pronoun + Declarative Sentence
Here, the interrogative pronoun does not ask a question. Instead, it refers to something unspecified or not clearly identified.
Compare:
哪儿nǎrsomewhere / anywhere
什么shénmesomething / anything
谁shéisomeone / anyone
哪nǎsome / any
Examples
我好像在哪儿看到过这个箱子
哪儿 → somewhere
It is not a question. The speaker simply does not remember the exact place.
你吃点儿什么再走吧
什么 → something
Here, 什么 is not being used to ask “what?”
我们哪天一起去踢足球吧
哪天 → one day / some day
The exact day has not been decided yet.
Remember
An interrogative pronoun does not always mean that a question is being asked.
Its meaning depends on the context.
你去哪儿？
But:
我好像在哪儿见过他
Quick Formula
Interrogative Pronoun + Declarative Sentence → unspecified place / thing / person
哪儿 → somewhere / anywhere
什么 → something / anything
谁 → someone / anyone
哪 → some / any