People 1

Y and W

A y in pinyin usually sounds similar to the y in yes (for example, 也, yě). When you see a w, it will normally be pronounced like the w in wood (for example, 我, wǒ).

Two exceptions are the syllables yi and wu (as in 一 and 五) where the y and w are rarely pronounced.

Asking Questions

You already know how to ask questions by saying 不 (bù, not) after the verb and then repeating the verb again; for example, 那是不是你的妻子？ This works with adjectives, too!

Also, notice that in this pattern, 很 (hěn) is no longer used.

你高兴不高兴？

(Nǐ gāoxìng bu gāoxìng?) Are you happy?

他忙不忙？

(Tā máng bu máng?) Is he busy?

When to use 很

Remember that 很 (hěn) is usually used before adjectives, even when it doesn’t actually mean very (for example, 我很高兴。 However, in questions ending with 吗 (ma), speakers are less likely to use 很.

她们忙吗？

(Tāmen máng ma?) Are they busy?

In fact, if a speaker does add 很 to a question with 吗, it’s likely that 很 means very.

她们很忙吗？

(Tāmen hěn máng ma?) Are they very busy?