Understanding basic question words in Mandarin is really important. They help you make simple sentences and connect with others. Let’s look at two key question words and how to use them.

What (什么, shénme)

How to Use:

• 你要什么？(Nǐ yào shénme?) - What do you want?
• 这是什么？(Zhè shì shénme?) - What is this?

Where (哪里, nǎlǐ)

How to Use:

• 你在哪里？(Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?) - Where are you?
• 学校在哪里？(Xuéxiào zài nǎlǐ?) - Where is the school?

Building Sentences

1. Starting with Yourself:

   • 我想知道… (Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào…) - I want to know…
     • Example: 我想知道你要什么。(Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào nǐ yào shénme.) - I want to know what you want.

2. Using Question Words:

   • …在…吗？(…zài…ma?) - Is it at…?
     • Example: 学校在哪里吗？(Xuéxiào zài nǎlǐ ma?) - Is the school there?

Practicing Sounds and Tones:

• 什么 (shénme) – For "shén," your voice goes down, and "me" is light and quick.
• 哪里 (nǎlǐ) – For "nǎ," your voice goes down, and "lǐ" goes up a bit at the end.

Listening to Conversations:

Listen to simple conversations that use these question words. This will help you understand and reply better.

Summary:

Using "什么" and "哪里" helps you ask questions and improve your Mandarin. Practice a lot, and you'll feel more confident with your sentences!