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Questions & Answers about nǐ yǒu shuǐ ma?
What does the particle 吗 (ma) do here? Do I need English-style rising intonation?
吗 is a sentence-final particle that turns a statement into a yes–no question. You don’t need to raise your pitch like in English; the particle itself marks the question, and it’s pronounced with a neutral tone. The overall intonation is relatively flat and natural, not strongly rising.
How should I answer this question naturally?
Chinese typically answers yes–no questions by repeating or negating the verb, not with a standalone “yes” or “no.”
- Positive: 有。 (I have.) / 我有。
- Negative: 没有。 or 没。 (I don’t have.)
- More informative: 我有一点儿。 (I have a little.) / 我没带。 (I didn’t bring any.) Avoid answering with 是/不是 for this kind of question.
Why is there no word for “any”? Do I need a measure word with 水?
Chinese doesn’t require a word like “any” in such questions. For mass nouns like 水, you can ask generally without a measure word: 你有水吗？ If you want to specify quantity or be more precise/polite, add a measure word:
- 一点(儿)水 (a little water)
- 一杯水 (a cup of water)
- 一瓶水 (a bottle of water)
- 一些水 (some water)
How do I pronounce this smoothly? Are there tone changes?
Because 你 (nǐ) and 有 (yǒu) are both third tone, third-tone sandhi applies: the first one becomes second tone. Say it as: ní yǒu shuǐ ma. 吗 is neutral tone.
Can I drop 你 and just say 有水吗?
Yes. 有水吗？ is natural and often means “Is there any water?” or, when addressing a group or clerk, “Do you (guys) have water?” You can also be location-specific: 这儿有水吗？ (Is there water here?)
Can I use the A-not-A pattern instead of 吗?
Yes. Common alternatives:
- 你有没有水？
- 你有水没有？ (colloquial) Don’t combine these with 吗; it’s one pattern or the other.
Why is the negative with 有 not 不有?
有 is negated with 没(有), not 不. So:
- Statement: 我有水。
- Negative: 我没有水。 不有 is ungrammatical in modern standard Mandarin.
Is 有 expressing possession or existence here?
In 你有水吗？, 有 means possession (“do you have…”). 有 can also express existence with a location phrase:
- 桌子上有水吗？ (Is there water on the table?)
So: Subject + 有
- object = possession; Location + 有
- noun = existence.
- object = possession; Location + 有
Is this polite enough? How can I ask more politely if I actually want some water?
It’s fine in casual contexts. To be more polite, either soften with a polite lead-in or turn it into a request:
- 请问，你有水吗？
- 可以/能给我一点(儿)水吗？
- 可以给我一杯水吗？
- To a shop: 有矿泉水吗？ (Do you have bottled water?)
Do I need 的 to show possession, like “your water”?
No. 你有水 = “you have water.” 的 is used to mark attributive possession (e.g., 你的水 = “your water”), not the verb “to have.” So “have” is expressed with 有, not with 的.
What’s the difference between 吗, 呢, 嘛, and 么? They look/sound similar.
- 吗: yes–no question particle (as in this sentence).
- 呢: topic-continuation or “how about…?” (e.g., 你呢？).
- 嘛: modal particle for tone/mild emphasis/“you know” feel (别急嘛).
- 么: part of words like 什么 (what); it isn’t a yes–no particle.
Can I say 你要水吗？ instead? Does it mean the same thing?
Different meaning. 你要水吗？ asks “Do you want water?” while 你有水吗？ asks “Do you have water?” Choose based on whether you’re asking about desire vs. possession/availability.
If I’m asking a vendor for bottled water, should I still say 水?
You can, but it’s clearer to specify:
- 有矿泉水吗？ (Do you have bottled/mineral water?)
- 有纯净水吗？ (Purified water?)
- 有一瓶水吗？ (Do you have a bottle of water?)
Do I still use a question mark when I already have 吗?
Yes. In writing, keep the question mark: 你有水吗？ The particle marks the sentence type; the punctuation marks it in writing.
Are there regional preferences (Mainland vs. Taiwan)?
Both use 你有水吗？ widely. You’ll also often hear the A–not–A form 你有没有水？, which is very common in Taiwan and also used on the Mainland. Both are fine.
How do I address multiple people or be extra respectful?
- Plural “you”: 你们有水吗？
- Respectful singular: 您有水吗？
- Add a polite opener: 请问，您有水吗？