What Are You Asking? (你问什么?) - HSK Chinese Graded Reader

In this story, you’ll get to practice using the word 问 (wèn), which means “to ask.” 问 is a very useful word in daily conversations, especially when you want to ask questions or ask for help. Throughout the dialogue, you’ll see different ways 问 can be used. Pay attention to how 李明 (Lǐ Míng) builds up the courage to ask 小红 (Xiǎo Hóng) to lunch, and how 问 appears in both direct questions and statements. By the end of this story, you’ll feel more confident using 问 in your own conversations as you continue to learn Chinese!

李明: 老师，我想和小红一起吃午饭。 {Play}

老师: 那你问她吧！ {Play}

李明: 好的。 {Play}

（李明走到小红旁边） {Play}

李明: 小红，我想问…… {Play}

小红: 你问什么？ {Play}

李明：你喜欢吃什么菜？ {Play}

小红: 你为什么问？ {Play}

李明: 我想问你一个问题。 {Play}

小红: 你问什么？ {Play}

李明: 你想和我一起吃午饭吗？ {Play}

小红: 好！ {Play}

李明: 老师，我想和小红一起吃午饭。 {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Lǎoshī, wǒ xiǎng hé Xiǎo Hóng yīqǐ chī wǔfàn.

Li Ming: Teacher, I want to have lunch with Xiao Hong.

老师: 那你问她吧！ {Play}

Lǎoshī: Nà nǐ wèn tā ba!

Teacher: Then you ask her!

李明: 好的。 {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Hǎo de.

Li Ming: Okay.

（李明走到小红旁边） {Play}

(Lǐ Míng zǒu dào Xiǎo Hóng pángbiān)

(Li Ming walks over to Xiao Hong)

李明: 小红，我想问…… {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Xiǎo Hóng, wǒ xiǎng wèn……

Li Ming: Xiao Hong, I want to ask…

小红: 你问什么？ {Play}

Xiǎo Hóng: Nǐ wèn shénme?

Xiao Hong: What are you asking?

李明: 你喜欢吃什么菜？ {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Nǐ xǐhuān chī shénme cài?

Li Ming: What food do you like?

小红: 你为什么问？ {Play}

Xiǎo Hóng: Nǐ wèishéme wèn?

Xiao Hong: Why do you ask?

李明: 我想问你一个问题。 {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yī gè wèntí.

Li Ming: I want to ask you a question.

小红: 你问什么？ {Play}

Xiǎo Hóng: Nǐ wèn shénme?

Xiao Hong: What are you asking?

李明: 你想和我一起吃午饭吗？ {Play}

Lǐ Míng: Nǐ xiǎng hé wǒ yīqǐ chī wǔfàn ma?

Li Ming: Do you want to have lunch with me?

小红: 好！ {Play}

Xiǎo Hóng: Hǎo!

Xiao Hong: Sure!