Tag Questions in Chinese

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

Tag Questions 可以吗 kěyǐ ma、好吗 hǎo ma & 行吗 xíng ma

A tag question is a short question added to the end of a statement, like “…, okay?” or “…, is that alright?” In Chinese, you just say your idea, add a comma, then tag on 可以吗 kěyǐ ma, 好吗 hǎo ma or 行吗 xíng ma.

Tag questions in Chinese

Tag questions are used to ask permission, make a suggestion, or check that the other person agrees. The tag you pick changes the tone a little.

1Structure

Statement + 可以 kěyǐ + 吗 ma ？

Used to ask for permission: “Is it okay if…?” / “Am I allowed to…?”

你nǐ的de手机shǒujī借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià，可以kěyǐ吗ma？
Let me borrow your phone for a moment, is that okay?
我wǒ先xiān洗澡xǐzǎo，可以kěyǐ吗ma？
I’ll take a shower first, is that okay?
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 that okay?
📌 Same meaning, different word order

You can also move 可以 kěyǐ into the sentence, right before the verb, and keep 吗 ma at the end. The meaning doesn’t change.

你nǐ的de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吗ma？
Can I take a shower first?

Statement + 好 hǎo + 吗 ma ？

好 hǎo means “good” or “fine.” With 吗 ma, it asks for agreement: “…, okay?” It’s the friendliest and most casual of the three.

我们wǒmen明天míngtiān八点bādiǎn出发chūfā，好hǎo吗ma？
Let’s leave at 8 o’clock tomorrow, okay?
你nǐ来lái的de时候shíhou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, okay?
下次xiàcì看kàn这zhè个ge电影diànyǐng，好hǎo吗ma？
Let’s watch this movie next time, okay?

Statement + 行 xíng + 吗 ma ？

行 xíng literally means “to work” or “to be doable.” With 吗 ma, it asks whether something is acceptable or doable: “…, can you do that?” It can sound a bit more direct.

你nǐ明天míngtiān早zǎo点儿diǎnr来lái，行xíng吗ma？
Come a bit earlier tomorrow, okay?
下班xiàbān后hòu给gěi我wǒ打dǎ电话diànhuà，行xíng吗ma？
Call me after work, okay?
礼拜一lǐbàiyī前qián给gěi我wǒ报告bàogào，行xíng吗ma？
Give me the report before Monday, okay?
💡 Tiffany’s Two Cents

To be honest, Chinese speakers don’t separate these three very strictly. There’s a lot of overlap when they’re used as tag questions, so don’t worry too much about picking the “right” one. And I promise the HSK exam won’t test you on choosing between them!

2Quick Comparison

TagUsed to…Feel
可以吗 kěyǐ maask for permissionPolite
好吗 hǎo masuggest something and ask for agreementFriendly, casual
行吗 xíng maask if something is acceptable or doableMore direct
📌 The A-not-A version

Each tag also has an A-not-A form, just like 是不是 shì bú shì. These sound a little more casual and a little more eager for an answer.

我们wǒmen明天míngtiān去qù爬山páshān，好hǎo不bù好hǎo？
Let’s go hiking tomorrow, okay?
我wǒ用yòng一下yíxià你nǐ的de电脑diànnǎo，可kě不bù可以kěyǐ？
Can I use your computer for a moment?
你nǐ小xiǎo声shēng一yì点儿diǎnr，行xíng不bù行xíng？
Could you be a bit quieter?
💬 How to answer

Yes: 好啊 hǎo a, 可以 kěyǐ, 行 xíng, 没问题 méi wèntí (“no problem”).

No: 不行 bù xíng, 不可以 bù kěyǐ, or more gently 不太方便 bú tài fāngbiàn (“it’s not very convenient”).

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I’ll sit here, is that okay?
我wǒ坐zuò这里zhèlǐ，可以kěyǐ吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
02Let’s eat Japanese food tonight, okay?
我们wǒmen今天jīntiān晚上wǎnshang吃chī日本菜Rìběncài，好hǎo吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
03Speak a little slower, okay?
你nǐ说shuō慢màn一yì点儿diǎnr，好hǎo吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
04Wait for me for ten minutes, okay?
等děng我wǒ十shí分钟fēnzhōng，行xíng吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
05I want to open the window, is that okay?
我wǒ想xiǎng开kāi窗户chuānghu，可以kěyǐ吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
06Don’t tell him, okay?
别bié告诉gàosu他tā，好hǎo吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
07Can I pay by card?
我wǒ可以kěyǐ刷卡shuākǎ吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
08Let’s go to the movies on Saturday, okay?
我们wǒmen星期六xīngqíliù去qù看kàn电影diànyǐng，好hǎo不bù好hǎo？
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→Yes-No Questions(HSK 1) →是不是 shì bú shì — “right?”(HSK 2)

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