Mandarin Vocabulary - Answering Questions

Mandarin does not have specific words for saying â€Å"yes† and â€Å"no.† Instead, the verb which is used in the Mandarin question is used to make a positive or negative reply. For example, if the question was: Do you like rice? The answer could be: I like.orI don’t like. Answering Mandarin Questions Mandarin questions can be answered with the question verb. This verb can be either positive (to answer â€Å"yes†) or negative (to answer â€Å"no†). The positive form of the verb is simply the verb repeated: Q: NÇ  xÇ huan fà  n ma?Do you like rice?ä ½  Ã¥â€"Å"æ ­ ¡Ã© £ ¯Ã¥â€"Ž?A: XÇ huan.(I) like.Ã¥â€"Å"æ ­ ¡ If you want to say you don’t like rice, you would say bà ¹ xÇ huan. The Mandarin No To answer â€Å"no† to a question, the negative form of the question verb is formed using the particle ä ¸  (bà ¹). The only â€Å"irregular† verb is æÅ"‰ (yÇ’u - to have), which uses æ ²â€™ (mà ©i) for its negative form. Mà ©i is also used for negating Functive Verbs (action verbs) when talking about past actions. In this situation, mà ©i is a short form for mà ©i yÇ’u and either form can be used. Mandarin Questions and Answers Q: NÇ  yÇ’u bÇ  ma?Do you have a pen?ä ½  Ã¦Å"‰ç ­â€ Ã¥â€"Ž?A: Mà ©i yÇ’u.No (don’t have).æ ²â€™Ã¦Å"‰Q: NÇ  yà  o bà º yà  o mÇŽi?Do you want to buy (it)?ä ½  Ã¨ ¦ Ã¤ ¸ Ã¨ ¦ Ã¨ ² ·?A: Yà  o.Yes (want).è ¦ Q: JÄ «ntiÄ n shà ¬ xÄ «ng qÄ « yÄ « ma?Is today Monday?ä »Å Ã¥ ¤ ©Ã¦Ëœ ¯Ã¦ËœÅ¸Ã¦Å"Ÿä ¸â‚¬Ã¥â€"Ž?A: Shà ¬.Yes (is).æ˜ ¯