Asking questions (5W1H)

1. What

What is this? = ce1lay1 si3 ha1mik1?

• ce1lay1 = this
• si3 = is
• ha1mik1 = what

Alternatives to this:

1. yours = lu4 ay1
2. inside = lai3bin3
3. there = hay1payng2
4. money = lui1
5. it = hay1lay1

2. Who

Who are you? = lu4 si3 ha1mang2?

• lu4 = you
• si3 = are
• ha1mang2 = who

Alternatives to you:

1. they = i1lang2
2. the teachers = lau3se1
3. his children = i1 ay1 kiia4
4. these people = ce1lay1 lang2
5. here = ce1payng2

Who is coming?/ Who comes? = ha1mang2 lai2?

• ha1mang2 = who
• lai2 = come

The verbs can be either in the present continuous tense or present tense. Alternatives to the verbs:

1. eat = ciak1
2. drink = lim1
3. go = khi3
4. talk = kong4ua3
5. shout = jang4

3. When

When will he arrive? = i1 tiang3si2/ ti3si2 kau3?

• i1 = he/ she
• tiang3si2/ ti3si2 = when
• kau3 = arrive

Alternatives to he arrive:

1. she cooks = i1 cu4ciak1
2. we sing = wa4lang2 chiior4kua1
3. they pay = i1lang2 hayng3lui1
4. the students play = hap3sayng1 li4tho2
5. the police come = kayng4chat3 lai2

4. Why

Why do you want it? = lu4 co1mik1su3 ai3 hay1lay1?

• lu4 = you
• co1mik1su3 = why
• ai3 = want
• hay1lay1 = that

Alternatives to you want:

1. I need = wa4 su4yau3
2. the boys run away = hay1lay1 ta3por1 cau4khi3
3. the boss call you = thau3kay1 kio3 lu4
4. this girl cry = ce1lay1 ca3bor4 gi1na4 hau4
5. that dog bark = hay1lay1 kau4 pui3

5. Where

Where is your house? = lu4 ay1 chu3 uan1 tor1lork1?

• lu4 = you
• ay1 = of
• chu3 = house
• uan1 = at
• tor1lork1 = where

Alternatives to house:

1. school = ork3teng2
2. factory = kang3tiio2
3. office = kan3tor1
4. thing = bik3kiia3
5. family = chu3 ay1 lang2

6. How

How did they do it? = i1lang2 an1cua4 co3 hay1lay1?

• i1lang2 = they
• an1cua4 = how
• co3 = do
• hay1lay1 = it

Alternatives to do:

1. see = khua3
2. say = korng4
3. accept = ciap4siu3
4. buy = bay4
5. sell = bay3

How many are there? = u3 kui4kai2?

• u3 = have; exist
• kui4kai2 = how many/ much

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash