呢 ne question particle
question particle; what about; ongoing action
How to remember 呢: 口 mouth + 尼 nun = question particle. On the abbey tour a boy opens his mouth shyly, and the nun guiding them smiles when his words end with a question particle.
Component breakdown
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
呢 = 口 mouth + 尼 nun
- 口 mouth meaning
- 尼 nun sound
On the abbey tour a boy opens his mouth shyly, and the nun guiding them smiles when his words end with a question particle.
How it came to be
The mouth gives the meaning, and the part on the right gives the sound.
How it is used
- Bounces a question back onto the other person: 你呢? (nǐ ne) and you?
- Or marks an ongoing scene: 他在做什么呢? (tā zài zuò shénme ne) what's he up to right now? Unlike 吗, it can't form a plain yes/no question on its own.
Example sentences
- 我很好，你呢？ Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?I am fine. And you?
- 两岸是否会统一呢？ Liǎng'Àn shìfǒu huì tǒngyī ne?Will the mainland and Taiwan be reunified?