Mandarin Chinese reference
问
wèn
to ask
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | wènask |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | wèn leasked |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | wèn guohave asked before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài wènbe asking |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào wèn lebe about to ask |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì wènwill ask |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bú wèndo not ask |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi wèndid not ask |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | wèn ma?do you ask? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | wèn bu wèn?do you ask? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.