Conversational Mandarin Chinese Quiz: Asking Information Questions
10 questions · exam conditions
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Asking Information QuestionsQuestion 1 of 10

Your Mandarin-speaking colleague mentions she had a meeting this morning but you missed the details. You want to ask her who attended the meeting.

Which of the following sentences correctly uses the appropriate Mandarin question word to ask 'Who was at the meeting?' in a natural, conversational way?

会议什么人参加了？(Huìyì shénme rén cānjiā le?) — using 什么人 to ask 'what person/what kind of person attended the meeting?'
会议谁参加了？(Huìyì shuí cānjiā le?) — using 谁 to ask 'who attended the meeting?'
会议哪里的人参加了？(Huìyì nǎlǐ de rén cānjiā le?) — using 哪里的人 to ask 'people from where attended the meeting?'
会议怎么参加了？(Huìyì zěnme cānjiā le?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how did the meeting get attended?'
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Conversational Mandarin Chinese Quiz

Conversational Mandarin Chinese Quiz: Asking Information Questions

Practice Asking Information Questions in Conversational Mandarin Chinese with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Asking Information Questions, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Conversational Mandarin Chinese.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Your Mandarin-speaking colleague mentions she had a meeting this morning but you missed the details. You want to ask her who attended the meeting.

Which of the following sentences correctly uses the appropriate Mandarin question word to ask 'Who was at the meeting?' in a natural, conversational way?

  1. 会议什么人参加了？(Huìyì shénme rén cānjiā le?) — using 什么人 to ask 'what person/what kind of person attended the meeting?'
  2. 会议谁参加了？(Huìyì shuí cānjiā le?) — using 谁 to ask 'who attended the meeting?' (correct answer)
  3. 会议哪里的人参加了？(Huìyì nǎlǐ de rén cānjiā le?) — using 哪里的人 to ask 'people from where attended the meeting?'
  4. 会议怎么参加了？(Huìyì zěnme cānjiā le?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how did the meeting get attended?'
Explanation: When asking about people in Mandarin, the key is choosing the right question word. Mandarin has distinct interrogative words for "who," "what," "where," and "how" — and mixing them up produces sentences that are either unnatural or ask completely different questions. Here, you need a word that directly targets identity of a person. The word 谁 (shuí) is Mandarin's direct equivalent of "who," making B the correct and natural choice. 会议谁参加了？literally slots 谁 into the subject position, asking specifically about the identity of the people who attended — exactly what the situation calls for. A is a common trap. 什么人 (shénme rén) means "what kind of person" or "what sort of person," implying you're asking about a category or type, not a specific identity. Saying 会议什么人参加了？sounds like you're asking "What type of person attends this meeting?" — a subtly different and somewhat unnatural question in this conversational context. C uses 哪里的人 (nǎlǐ de rén), which asks about people's geographical origin — "people from where attended?" This would only make sense if you were curious about attendees' locations, not who they were. D uses 怎么 (zěnme), which asks "how," so 会议怎么参加了？awkwardly becomes "How did the meeting get attended?" — grammatically odd and completely off-topic. Study tip: Whenever a Mandarin question involves identifying a specific person, reach for 谁 immediately. Don't confuse it with 什么人, which targets type or category rather than individual identity.

Question 2

You are at a night market in Taipei and want to buy some scallion pancakes. The vendor is busy and you need to get their attention to ask a few things.

You want to find out the price of the scallion pancakes. Which question would be the most natural and appropriate way to ask this in conversational Mandarin?

  1. 这个葱油饼多少钱？(Zhège cōngyóubǐng duōshǎo qián?) — asking 'how much money is this scallion pancake?' (correct answer)
  2. 这个葱油饼什么时候好？(Zhège cōngyóubǐng shénme shíhou hǎo?) — asking 'when will this scallion pancake be ready?'
  3. 这个葱油饼怎么样？(Zhège cōngyóubǐng zěnmeyàng?) — asking 'how is/what do you think of this scallion pancake?'
  4. 这个葱油饼哪里有？(Zhège cōngyóubǐng nǎlǐ yǒu?) — asking 'where can I find this scallion pancake?'
Explanation: When asking about price in Mandarin, the key question word is 多少钱 (duōshǎo qián), which literally means "how much money." This is the standard, universally understood phrase for inquiring about cost in any Chinese-speaking marketplace, from street vendors to retail shops. Recognizing this phrase is essential for everyday shopping conversations. Choice A — 这个葱油饼多少钱？ — is exactly right. It combines 这个 (this), the item 葱油饼 (scallion pancake), and 多少钱 (how much money) into a natural, complete price inquiry. A vendor will immediately understand and respond with a number. This structure works for virtually any item: just swap in the product name before 多少钱. Choice B asks 什么时候好？ — "when will it be ready?" This is a question about wait time or preparation, not price. You might actually use this after ordering, but it answers a completely different need. Choice C uses 怎么样？, which invites an opinion or general assessment, like "how is it?" or "what do you think?" It's a great conversation starter, but it doesn't communicate any desire to know the cost. Choice D asks 哪里有？ — "where can I find this?" That question makes no sense when you're already standing in front of the vendor selling it. As a study tip, memorize 多少钱 as your go-to price phrase — it works in Taiwan, mainland China, and beyond. Pair it with 这个 (this) or 那个 (that) and any noun, and you've got a reliable shopping formula for the exam and real life.

Question 3

You are chatting with a new Mandarin-speaking friend and want to ask where she lives. However, you also want to sound natural rather than overly formal.

Your friend says: '我最近搬家了。' (I recently moved.) You want to follow up by asking where she moved to. Which response uses the correct question word and sounds most natural in casual conversational Mandarin?

  1. 你搬到什么地方去了？(Nǐ bāndào shénme dìfāng qù le?) — using 什么地方 to ask 'what place did you move to?'
  2. 你搬到哪里去了？(Nǐ bāndào nǎlǐ qù le?) — using 哪里 to ask 'where did you move to?' (correct answer)
  3. 你搬到谁那里去了？(Nǐ bāndào shuí nàlǐ qù le?) — using 谁 to ask 'who did you move in with?'
  4. 你怎么搬家的？(Nǐ zěnme bānjiā de?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how did you move?'
Explanation: When asking "where" questions in Mandarin, your go-to question words are 哪里 (nǎlǐ) or 哪儿 (nǎr), both meaning "where." These are the natural, direct way to ask about location or destination in everyday conversation — much like how English uses "where" rather than "what place." B) 你搬到哪里去了？ is the correct and most natural response. The structure 搬到 + [destination] + 去了 is a standard directional pattern meaning "moved to [somewhere]." Dropping in 哪里 asks precisely where that destination is, making the question both grammatically clean and conversationally appropriate. A) uses 什么地方 ("what place"), which is technically understandable but feels stiff and roundabout in casual speech — like saying "to what place did you move?" instead of simply "where did you move?" Save 什么地方 for more formal or written contexts. C) swaps in 谁 ("who") and 那里 ("there/that place"), completely changing the meaning to "who did you move in with?" This is a different question entirely and assumes information your friend never mentioned. Don't confuse 那里 (nàlǐ — "that place") with 哪里 (nǎlǐ — "where"); the tones are different and the meanings are very distinct. D) uses 怎么 ("how"), which asks about the method or process of moving, not the destination. This misses the communicative goal entirely. Study tip: Memorize the pair — 哪里/哪儿 for "where" and 那里/那儿 for "there." Mixing them up by tone is one of the most common beginner errors in conversational Mandarin questions.

Question 4

You are making plans with a Mandarin-speaking friend over the phone. She says she wants to meet up but hasn't specified the time.

You need to ask your friend 'What time do you want to meet?' in Mandarin. Which of the following is the most appropriate and grammatically correct way to ask this?

  1. 你想几点见面？(Nǐ xiǎng jǐ diǎn jiànmiàn?) — using 几点 to ask 'what o'clock do you want to meet?'
  2. 你想什么时候见面？(Nǐ xiǎng shénme shíhou jiànmiàn?) — using 什么时候 to ask 'when do you want to meet?' (correct answer)
  3. 你想多久见面？(Nǐ xiǎng duōjiǔ jiànmiàn?) — using 多久 to ask 'how long do you want to meet for?'
  4. 你想哪天见面？(Nǐ xiǎng nǎ tiān jiànmiàn?) — using 哪天 to ask 'which day do you want to meet?'
Explanation: When asking about time in Mandarin, the key is matching your question word to the type of time information you're seeking. Mandarin has several distinct question words for time, and choosing the wrong one produces a grammatically passable but semantically mismatched question. 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) means "when" in a broad sense — it invites your friend to specify any point in time, whether that's a day, a time of day, or both. Since your friend hasn't specified anything yet about timing, B gives her maximum flexibility to answer however is natural. That open-ended quality makes it the most appropriate choice here. A uses 几点 (jǐ diǎn), which specifically asks "what o'clock" — it presumes you're already aligned on the day and just need the hour. If you already knew you were meeting today, 几点 would be perfect. But jumping straight to asking for the hour when the day is unconfirmed feels premature and awkward. C uses 多久 (duōjiǔ), which asks "how long" or "how much time" — a duration question, not a scheduling one. You'd use this to ask how long the meeting will last, not when it will happen. This is a classic trap because duō questions feel time-related. D uses 哪天 (nǎ tiān), meaning "which day." This is too narrow in the opposite direction — it locks the question to just the date, ignoring the time of day entirely. As a study tip, memorize the three core time question words as a set: 几点 (what time/hour), 哪天 (which day), and 什么时候 (when — open-ended). Knowing when each is appropriate will serve you across many conversational scenarios.

Question 5

You are visiting a Chinese-speaking city for the first time and ask a local for directions to the train station.

The local gives you directions but speaks quickly. You want to ask 'How do I get to the train station?' to clarify. Which sentence best accomplishes this using the correct question word?

  1. 火车站在哪里？(Huǒchēzhàn zài nǎlǐ?) — asking 'where is the train station?' to determine its location
  2. 火车站什么时候开？(Huǒchēzhàn shénme shíhou kāi?) — asking 'when does the train station open?' to check operating hours
  3. 火车站多远？(Huǒchēzhàn duō yuǎn?) — asking 'how far is the train station?' to determine the distance
  4. 火车站怎么走？(Huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?) — asking 'how do I get to/walk to the train station?' to clarify directions (correct answer)
Explanation: When asking for directions in Mandarin, the key is matching the right question word to what you actually need. Chinese question words are highly specific — 哪里 asks where, 什么时候 asks when, 多远 asks how far, and 怎么 asks how. Since the scenario calls for clarifying how to get somewhere, you need 怎么走 (zěnme zǒu), making D the correct answer. 火车站怎么走 literally means "the train station — how does one walk/go?" and is the standard, natural phrase a native speaker would use when asking for route directions. Choice A, 火车站在哪里, asks where the station is located — useful if you don't know the general area, but it won't get you turn-by-turn directions. A local might just point and say "over there," leaving you no clearer on how to navigate. Choice B, 火车站什么时候开, is a completely different question about operating hours — it has nothing to do with directions and reflects a misuse of 什么时候. Choice C, 火车站多远, asks about distance rather than directions. Knowing the station is 500 meters away still doesn't tell you which streets to take. A helpful memory trick: think of 怎么走 as your "navigation phrase." Any time you need someone to walk you through a route step-by-step, 怎么走 is your go-to. Pair it with any destination — 医院怎么走 (hospital), 超市怎么走 (supermarket) — and you'll always sound natural asking for directions.

Question 6

You are at a dinner party and meet someone new. You want to ask about their job in a polite, conversational way.

You want to ask your new acquaintance 'What do you do for work?' in Mandarin. Which of the following is the most natural and socially appropriate way to phrase this question?

  1. 你做什么工作？(Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?) — using 什么 to ask 'what work do you do?' (correct answer)
  2. 你怎么工作？(Nǐ zěnme gōngzuò?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how do you work?'
  3. 你在哪里工作？(Nǐ zài nǎlǐ gōngzuò?) — using 哪里 to ask 'where do you work?'
  4. 你跟谁一起工作？(Nǐ gēn shuí yīqǐ gōngzuò?) — using 谁 to ask 'who do you work with?'
Explanation: When asking about someone's occupation in Mandarin, the key is matching your question word to what you actually want to know. Mandarin question words are not interchangeable — 什么 (shénme), 怎么 (zěnme), 哪里 (nǎlǐ), and 谁 (shuí) each target a specific type of information, and using the wrong one produces a grammatically odd or socially off-target question. Option A, 你做什么工作？, is the natural choice here. You're asking what kind of work someone does, so 什么 ("what") slots in perfectly. This phrasing is polite, common at social gatherings, and directly maps to "What do you do for work?" in English. It's the correct answer. Option B, 你怎么工作？, uses 怎么 ("how"), which shifts the meaning entirely to the manner of working — something like "How do you go about working?" This sounds awkward out of context and wouldn't make sense as a casual introduction question. Option C, 你在哪里工作？, uses 哪里 ("where"), asking about the location of someone's workplace. While this is a perfectly grammatical sentence, it doesn't answer the broader question of what someone's profession actually is — it only tells you the address, not the job. Option D, 你跟谁一起工作？, uses 谁 ("who"), asking about colleagues rather than occupation. This is far too specific and would be an unusual first question to ask someone you've just met. A helpful rule of thumb: map your question word to the information gap. When you want to know type or identity, reach for 什么 — it's your go-to for "what kind of  ?" questions in Mandarin.

Question 7

You are helping a Mandarin-speaking friend shop online. She wants to buy a jacket but is unsure about a listing. She says: '这件外套我不确定。' (I'm not sure about this jacket.)

You want to help her by asking the seller 'How many sizes does this jacket come in?' in Mandarin. Which sentence correctly uses the appropriate question word for this inquiry?

  1. 这件外套有多少个尺码？(Zhè jiàn wàitào yǒu duōshǎo gè chǐmǎ?) — using 多少 to ask 'how many sizes does this jacket have?' (correct answer)
  2. 这件外套有几个尺码？(Zhè jiàn wàitào yǒu jǐ gè chǐmǎ?) — using 几 to ask 'how many sizes does this jacket have?'
  3. 这件外套什么尺码？(Zhè jiàn wàitào shénme chǐmǎ?) — using 什么 to ask 'what size is this jacket?'
  4. 这件外套哪里买？(Zhè jiàn wàitào nǎlǐ mǎi?) — using 哪里 to ask 'where can I buy this jacket?'
Explanation: When asking "how many" in Mandarin, you need to choose between two key question words: 多少 (duōshǎo) and 几 (jǐ). The critical distinction is scale: 几 implies an expected answer under 10, while 多少 works for any quantity — especially when the number is unknown or potentially large. This question tests whether you can match the right question word to the right context. For jacket sizes, the total number available is genuinely unknown — it could be just a few standard sizes or an extensive range. Using 多少 (Answer A) is therefore the correct choice, as it doesn't presuppose a small number and signals an open-ended quantity question. The full sentence 这件外套有多少个尺码 literally means "This jacket has how many sizes?" — which maps directly onto "How many sizes does this jacket come in?" Answer B uses 几个尺码, which subtly implies you already expect fewer than 10 sizes — a reasonable assumption, but 几 is typically reserved for contexts where a small number is virtually certain (e.g., asking how many children someone has). In a shopping context where product variety is unknown, 多少 is safer and more natural. Answer C uses 什么 (shénme), meaning "what," which shifts the question entirely — it asks which size the jacket is, not how many sizes exist. Answer D uses 哪里 (nǎlǐ), meaning "where," making it a location question about where to purchase the jacket, which is completely off-topic. Your study tip: memorize this rule — 几 = small, known range; 多少 = open, unknown quantity. When in doubt on exam questions, ask yourself whether the answer is predictably small.

Question 8

You are taking a Mandarin class and a fellow student tells you he studied over the weekend. You want to ask him how long he studied.

Which of the following sentences correctly asks 'How long did you study?' in Mandarin using the most natural and open-ended question word for duration?

  1. 你学习了多少时间？(Nǐ xuéxí le duōshǎo shíjiān?) — using 多少时间 to ask 'how much time did you study?'
  2. 你什么时候学习？(Nǐ shénme shíhou xuéxí?) — using 什么时候 to ask 'when did you study?'
  3. 你学习了多久？(Nǐ xuéxí le duōjiǔ?) — using 多久 to ask 'how long did you study?' (correct answer)
  4. 你学习了几个小时？(Nǐ xuéxí le jǐ gè xiǎoshí?) — using 几个小时 to ask 'how many hours did you study?'
Explanation: When asking about duration in Mandarin, you need to distinguish between question words that ask how long something lasted versus when it happened or how many of a specific unit were involved. The key concept here is choosing the most open-ended, natural phrasing for elapsed time. 多久 (duōjiǔ) is the go-to question word for asking about duration because it literally means "how long" without presupposing any particular unit of time. In answer C, 你学习了多久 pairs 多久 with the completion particle 了 to signal a completed action, making it a natural, flexible way to ask how long someone studied. The person answering can respond in minutes, hours, or any unit they choose. The other options each have specific flaws. Option A (多少时间) is grammatically acceptable but more literally translates to "how much time" — it's slightly clunkier and less idiomatic than 多久 for casual conversation. Option B (什么时候) is a completely different question type — it asks when you studied, not how long, so it misses the point of the question entirely. This is a common trap since both involve time vocabulary. Option D (几个小时) asks specifically "how many hours," which is too narrow — it presupposes the answer will be in hours rather than leaving the duration open-ended, making it less natural as an initial question. As a study tip, memorize the distinction between 什么时候 (when/at what time), 多久 (how long/duration), and 几个小时 (how many hours) — exam questions frequently test whether you can match the right question word to the right meaning.

Question 9

You receive a package at the office addressed to a colleague who is not at their desk. Another colleague tells you the package arrived this morning but doesn't know who sent it.

You want to ask the front desk receptionist 'Who sent this package?' in Mandarin. Which sentence correctly forms this 'who' question in a natural conversational way?

  1. 这个包裹什么人寄来的？(Zhège bāoguǒ shénme rén jì lái de?) — using 什么人 to ask 'what person sent this package?'
  2. 这个包裹哪里寄来的？(Zhège bāoguǒ nǎlǐ jì lái de?) — using 哪里 to ask 'where was this package sent from?'
  3. 这个包裹是谁寄来的？(Zhège bāoguǒ shì shuí jì lái de?) — using 谁 to ask 'who sent this package?' (correct answer)
  4. 这个包裹怎么寄来的？(Zhège bāoguǒ zěnme jì lái de?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how was this package sent?'
Explanation: When forming "who" questions in Mandarin, the key is matching your question word to exactly what you're asking about. Mandarin uses different interrogative words for different concepts — 谁 (shuí) for people, 哪里 (nǎlǐ) for places, 怎么 (zěnme) for methods — and swapping them changes the meaning entirely. Since you want to identify the person who sent the package, you need 谁, which is the direct Mandarin equivalent of "who." Option C, 这个包裹是谁寄来的？, fits perfectly. The structure breaks down as: 这个包裹 (this package) + 是 (is/was) + 谁 (who) + 寄来的 (sent). The 是...的 construction is also doing important work here — it's a common conversational pattern used to emphasize or inquire about a past action's circumstances, making this sentence sound natural and fluent rather than textbook-stiff. Option A uses 什么人, which literally means "what person" and sounds awkward and unnatural. While technically understandable, native speakers would use 谁, not 什么人, in this conversational context. Option B uses 哪里 (where), which shifts the question to the package's origin location — a completely different question. Option D uses 怎么 (how), asking about the shipping method rather than the sender. A useful tip: on conversational Mandarin questions, always identify what category of information you need (person, place, method, reason) before choosing your question word. 谁 = person, 哪里/哪儿 = place, 怎么 = method, 为什么 = reason, 什么时候 = time. Matching the right word to the right category is the core skill being tested here.

Question 10

You are at a restaurant with Mandarin-speaking friends. The server comes to take your order and one friend says she isn't ready yet. You want to ask the server to come back later, but first you want to ask your friend what she is thinking of ordering.

You turn to your friend and ask what she wants to order. Which of the following best reflects a natural, conversational Mandarin way to ask 'What do you want to order?'

  1. 你想谁点菜？(Nǐ xiǎng shuí diǎncài?) — using 谁 to ask 'who do you want to order the food?'
  2. 你想点哪个菜？(Nǐ xiǎng diǎn nǎ gè cài?) — using 哪个 to ask 'which dish do you want to order?'
  3. 你想怎么点菜？(Nǐ xiǎng zěnme diǎncài?) — using 怎么 to ask 'how do you want to order food?'
  4. 你想点什么？(Nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme?) — using 什么 to ask 'what do you want to order?' (correct answer)
Explanation: When asking open-ended "what" questions in Mandarin, the key word to reach for is 什么 (shénme). It's the most versatile question word for asking about unspecified things, making it perfect when you don't know what options exist — like asking a friend what she's considering ordering from an entire menu. D captures this perfectly: 你想点什么？(Nǐ xiǎng diǎn shénme?) literally means "You want to order what?" — a completely natural, everyday phrase any Mandarin speaker would use in this situation. The structure follows the standard Mandarin pattern: subject + 想 (want to) + verb + question word. Here's why the other choices miss the mark. A uses 谁 (shuí), which means "who" — a question word for people, not food or things. Asking "who do you want to order the food?" makes no sense in this context. C uses 怎么 (zěnme), meaning "how," which would imply you're asking about the method of ordering (like, online vs. in person), not what she wants to eat. B is the trickiest distractor — 哪个 (nǎ gè) means "which one" and isn't wrong grammatically, but it implies you're choosing from a specific, limited set of options already on the table. Since you're asking broadly about her intentions before the order is placed, 什么 is the more natural and open-ended fit. As a study tip, remember: 什么 = open "what" (unknown options), 哪个 = "which" (known, limited options). This distinction appears often in conversational Mandarin questions.