么 me question particle
How to remember 么: ㇒ falling stroke + 厶 cocoon = question particle. The art teacher adds one falling stroke to her drawing of a cocoon, and little Mia asks why after every line like a living question particle.
Component breakdown
么 = ㇒ falling stroke + 厶 cocoon
- ㇒ falling stroke
- 厶 cocoon
The art teacher adds one falling stroke to her drawing of a cocoon, and little Mia asks why after every line like a living question particle.
How it is used
- Only lives inside question words - 什么 (shénme) what, 怎么 (zěnme) how, 那么/这么 (nàme/zhème) so (much). Never stands alone.
- Toneless -me here; don't confuse it with the question particle 吗 (ma) or 嘛 (ma).
Words with 么
Example sentences
- 她怎么了？ Tā zěnme le?What happened to her?
- 你在想什么？ Nǐ zài xiǎng shénme?What are you thinking about?
- 那是什么东西？ Nà shì shénme dōngxi?What's that?
- 你叫什么名字？ Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?What's your name?