Question Forms in Hakka
Basic Question Pattern: Statement + mo?§
The most common way to form yes/no questions is to add mo at the end of a statement.
Examples:§
| Statement | Question | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nyi ho | Nyi ho mo? | Are you well? |
| Nyi sit pau | Nyi sit pau mo? | Have you eaten? |
| Nyi boi tuki | Nyi boi tuki mo? | Are you hungry? |
| Kinyit jiu co se | Kinyit jiu co se mo? | Are you working today? |
| Boi ho sit | Boi ho sit mo? | Is it good? |
Question Words§
| Question Word | Hakka | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| What | ma’ai | What are you doing? |
| Why | co mai | Why not working? |
| Who | ma ngin | Who is it? |
| Where | nai bui / a-bui | Where are you? |
| How | nyong pen | How are you? |
| How many | ki to / oi jit to | How many? |
| What time | kit to tiam | What time? |
| How much (price) | jit to lui | How much is it? |
Common Question Structures§
1. What Questions§
- Ma’ai = What
- Nyi mek ma’ai? = What are you doing?
- Sit ma’ai? = What did you eat?
- Cu ma’ai choi? = What are you cooking?
- Cu ma’ai? = What’s happening?
2. Where Questions§
- Nai bui = Where
- Nyi nai bui? = Where are you?
- Oi nai bui nyi? = Where will we meet?
- Nyi abui het? = Where do you live?
- Ngi piong hi a-bui? = Where did you put it?
3. Why Questions§
- Co mai = Why
- Co mai mo co se? = Why aren’t you working?
4. Time Questions§
- Kit to tiam? = What time?
- Co to jit to tiam? = What time will you finish work?
5. Price Questions§
- Jit to lui? = How much (money)?
6. How Questions§
- Nyi ho mo? = How are you? (lit: You well not?)
- Kinyit nyi ho mo? = How are you today?
- Ngi hok nyong pen? = How are you?
- Senli ho mo? = How is business?
Asking “Have you…?” Pattern§
[Verb] + pau + mang? = Have you [verb] yet?
| Question | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Nyi sit pau mang? | Have you eaten? |
| Sit ho kopi mang? | Have you had coffee? |
Responses:
- [Verb] pau = Already [verb]
- Example: Sit pau = Already eaten
- Mang [verb] = Haven’t [verb] yet
- Example: Mang sit = Haven’t eaten yet
Asking “Do you want…?” Pattern§
Nyi oi + [verb/noun] + mo? = Do you want to [verb/noun]?
| Question | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Nyi oi sit ma’ai? | What do you want to eat? |
| Kinyit oi hi khon hi mo? | Do you want to watch a movie today? |
| Nyi siong oi mai mo? | Do you want to buy it? |
Inverted Questions (Seeking Agreement)§
Add bi ok? at the end to seek agreement:
| Question | English |
|---|---|
| Bioskop mian chian bi ok? | In front of the cinema, okay? |
Multiple Question Patterns§
Full Questions§
- Nyi nai bui? = Where are you?
- Nyi mek ma’ai? = What are you doing?
- Kinyit nyi ho mo? = How are you today?
- Co to jit to tiam? = What time will you finish?
Short Questions§
Can omit the subject when context is clear:
- Sit ma’ai? = What (did you) eat?
- Kit to tiam? = What time?
- Nai bui? = Where?
Examples in Dialogue§
Q: Nyi nai bui?
(Where are you?)
A: Ngai buk kha
(I'm at home)
Q: Nyi mek ma'ai?
(What are you doing?)
A: Ngai cu choi
(I'm cooking)
Q: Cu ma'ai choi?
(What are you cooking?)
A: Cu fan kak cian kai nyuk
(Cooking rice with fried chicken)Notes§
- Mo at the end turns statements into yes/no questions
- Question words typically go in the same position as their answer would
- Subject can be omitted when context is clear
- Mang = not yet (used in negative responses to “already” questions)
—The Gardener