Chinese word

呢

Pronunciation

Pinyinne

Meaning

  • particlewhat about

Example

你呢？nǐ ne

What about you?

Illustration for 呢 (what about)

More examples

我在看书呢。wǒ zài kàn shū ne

I'm reading a book.

Core concept

A conversational spotlight that points to another person, keeps an action or state in view as it continues, or invites shared attention to a fact.

Common phrases

  • 你呢nǐ ne

    what about you

  • 怎么样呢zěn me yàng ne

    how about it

Similar words

吗ma: Marks a question that can be answered with yes or no.
吧ba: Makes a suggestion sound gentle and less forceful.
呀ya: Marks a warm, familiar call to someone.

Definition in Chinese

口语中的语气助词，用于把话题或疑问回到对方（如“你呢？”），也可置于动词或形容词后表示动作或状态的持续或正在进行（如“他在看书呢”），语气比“吗”更随意。kóu yǔ zhōng de yǔ qì zhù cí yòng yú bǎ huà tí huò yí wèn huí dào duì fāng rú nǐ ne yě kě zhì yú dòng cí huò xíng róng cí hòu biǎo shì dòng zuò huò zhuàng tài de chí xù huò zhèng zài jìn xíng rú tā zài kàn shū ne yǔ qì bǐ ma gèng suí yì

Word origin

In 呢 (ne, "sentence particle"), 口 (kǒu, "mouth") suggests spoken language while 尼 (ní, "nun") supplies the sound, linking the written form to its use in lively conversation.

Usage tips

  • 呢 (ne, "sentence particle") does not always make a yes-or-no question: in a short question, it often asks for the other person's answer or situation.

Other meanings

  • be ___ingparticle
  • rightparticle

Word lists with this word