Asking questions (5W1H)

1. What

What is this? = cele si hamik? [ce1lay1 si3 ha1mik1?]

• cele [ce1lay1] = this
• si [si3] = is
• hamik [ha1mik1] = what

Alternatives to this:

1. yours = lu e [lu4 ay1]
2. inside = laibin [lai3bin3]
3. there = hepeng [hay1payng2]
4. money = lui [lui1]
5. it = hele [hay1lay1]

2. Who

Who are you? = lu si hamang? [lu4 si3 ha1mang2?]

• lu [lu4] = you
• si [si3] = are
• hamang [ha1mang2] = who

Alternatives to you:

1. they = ilang [i1lang2]
2. the teachers = lause [lau3se1]
3. his children = i e kia [i1 ay1 kiia4]
4. these people = celei lang [ce1lay1 lang2]
5. here = cepeng [ce1payng2]

Who is coming?/ Who comes? = hamang lai? [ha1mang2 lai2?]

• hamang [ha1mang2] = who
• lai [lai2] = come

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

1. eat = ciak [ciak1]
2. drink = lim [lim1]
3. go = khi [khi3]
4. talk = kongwa [kong4wa3]
5. shout = jang [jang4]

3. When

When will he arrive? = i tiangsi/ tisi kau? [i1 tiang3si2/ ti3si2 kau3?]

• i [i1] = he/ she
• tiangsi/ tisi [tiang3si2/ ti3si2] = when
• kau [kau3] = arrive

Alternatives to he arrive:

1. she cook = i cuciak [i1 cu4ciak1]
2. we sing = walang chiokua [wa4lang2 chiio4kua1]
3. they pay = ilang henglui [i1lang2 hayng3lui1]
4. the students play = hapseng litho [hap3sayng1 li4tho2]
5. the police come = kengchat lai [kayng4chat3 lai2]

4. Why

Why do you want it? = lu comiksu ai hele? [lu4 co1mik1su3 ai3 hay1lay1?]

• lu [lu4] = you
• comiksu [co1mik1su3] = why
• ai [ai3] = want
• hele [hay1lay1] = that

Alternatives to you want:

1. I need = wa suyau [wa4 su4yau3]
2. the boys run away = hele tapo caukhi [hay1lay1 ta3por1 cau4khi3]
3. the boss call you = thauke kio lu [thau3kay1 kio3 lu4]
4. this girl cry = cele cabo gina hau [ce1lay1 ca3bor4 gi1na4 hau4]
5. that dog bark =hele kau pui [hay1lay1 kau4 pui3]

5. Where

Where is your house? = lu e chu uan torlork? [lu4 ay1 chu3 uan1 tor1lork1?]

• lu [lu4] = you
• e [ay1] = of
• chu [chu3] = house
• uan [uan1] = at
• torlork [tor1lork1]

Alternatives to house:

1. school = okteng [ork3teng2]
2. factory = kangtio [kang3tiio2]
3. office = kantor [kan3tor1]
4. thing = bikkia [bik3kiia3]
5. family = chu e lang [chu3 ay1 lang2]

6. How

How did they do it? = ilang ancua co hele? [i1lang2 an1cua4 co3 hay1lay1]

• ilang [i1lang2] = they
• ancua [an1cua4] = how
• co [co3] = do
• hele [hay1lay1] = it

Alternatives to do:

1. see = khua [khua3]
2. say = kong [korng4]
3. accept = ciapsiu [ciap4siu3]
4. buy = be [bay4]
5. sell = be [bay3]

How many are there? = u kuikai? [u3 kui4kai2?]

• u [u3] = have; exist
• kuikai [kui4kai2] = how many/ much

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash