Tag Questions in Chinese

Grammar Point:
Tag questions in Chinese are commonly used to confirm information or seek agreement from the listener. The choice of particle or question word used in the tag question may vary depending on the context and the desired tone.

Structure

Statement + 可以 + 嗎/吗

This phrase is often used to seek permission or ask if something is allowed.

你的nǐde手機shǒujī借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià， 可以kěyǐ嗎ma？ 你的nǐde手机shǒujī借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià， 可以kěyǐ吗ma？
I would like to borrow your phone for a moment. Is it ok?

我wǒ先xiān洗澡xǐzǎo， 可以kěyǐ嗎ma？ 我wǒ先xiān洗澡xǐzǎo， 可以kěyǐ吗ma？
If I take a shower first. Is it ok?

我wǒ想xiǎng取消qǔxiāo明天míngtiān的de課kè， 可以kěyǐ嗎ma？ 我wǒ想xiǎng取消qǔxiāo明天míngtiān的de课kè， 可以kěyǐ吗ma？
I want to cancel tomorrow’s class. Is it ok?

This sentence can also be rephrased using the following structure without altering its meaning.

你的nǐde手機shǒujī可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià嗎ma？ 你的nǐde手机shǒujī可以kěyǐ借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià吗ma？
Can I borrow your phone for a moment?

我wǒ可以kěyǐ先xiān洗澡xǐzǎo嗎ma？ 我wǒ可以kěyǐ先xiān洗澡xǐzǎo吗ma？
Can I take a shower first?

Statement + 好 + 嗎/吗

好 hǎo means “good” or “fine,” and when used with 嗎吗 ma, it forms a question seeking agreement or confirmation. It is the most friendly and casual one among these three.

我們wǒmen明天míngtiān八點bādiǎn出發chūfā， 好hǎo嗎ma？ 我们wǒmen明天míngtiān八点bādiǎn出发chūfā， 好hǎo吗ma？
Let’s depart at 8 o’clock tomorrow, ok?

你nǐ來lái的時候deshíhòu幫bāng我wǒ買mǎi一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi， 好hǎo嗎ma？ 你nǐ来lái的时候deshíhou帮bāng我wǒ买mǎi一杯yìbēi咖啡kāfēi， 好hǎo吗ma？
Buy me a cup of coffee when you come. Is it ok?

下次xiàcì看kàn這個zhège電影diànyǐng， 好hǎo嗎ma？ 下次xiàcì看kàn这个zhège电影diànyǐng， 好hǎo吗ma？
Is it okay to watch this movie next time?

Statement + 行 + 嗎/吗

行 xíng literally means “to work” or “to be feasible,” and when combined with 嗎吗 ma, it forms a question asking if something is acceptable or feasible.

你nǐ明天míngtiān早zǎo點diǎn來lái， 行xíng嗎ma？ 你nǐ明天míngtiān早zǎo点儿diǎnr来lái， 行xíng吗ma？
Come earlier tomorrow, okay?

下班xiàbān後hòu給gěi我wǒ打dǎ電話diànhuà， 行xíng嗎ma？ 下班xiàbān后hòu给gěi我wǒ打dǎ电话diànhuà， 行xíng吗ma？
Call me after work, okay?

禮拜一lǐbàiyī前qián給gěi我wǒ報告bàogào， 行xíng嗎ma？ 礼拜一lǐbàiyī前qián给gěi我wǒ报告bàogào， 行xíng吗ma？
Give me the report before Monday, okay?

But, to be honest, Chinese speakers do not distinguish them very strictly because there is a lot of overlap when using them as tag questions. So, don’t worry too much about distinguishing them. And I promise you that the HSK exam will not test you on choosing the right answer between these three.