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nǐ yòng zhè gè shǒujī ma?

你nǐ　用yòng　这zhè　个gè　手机shǒujī　吗ma？nǐ yòng zhè gè shǒujī ma?
Do you use this phone?
FromLesson 6inHardcore Chinese
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Questions & Answers about nǐ yòng zhè gè shǒujī ma?

What does the particle 吗 (ma) do here? Where does it go, and can it appear with other question words?
  • 吗 turns a statement into a yes/no question. It doesn’t add meaning beyond “Is it true that…?”
  • It must go at the very end of the sentence: 你用这个手机吗？
  • Do not combine 吗 with other question words (e.g., 什么, 谁, 哪个). Say 你用哪个手机？ not 你用哪个手机吗？
Is this asking “Are you using it right now?” or “Do you use it (in general)?”
  • As written, it’s ambiguous and typically reads as a general/habitual question: “Do you use this phone?”
  • For “right now,” add a progressive marker: 你在/正用这个手机吗？ (“Are you using this phone now?”)
  • Other useful variants:
    • 你会用这个手机吗？ “Do you know how to use this phone?”
    • 你用过这个手机吗？ “Have you used this phone (before)?”
How should I answer a 吗 question like this?
  • Short answers are fine:
    • Yes: 用。 / 我用。 / 对，我用这个手机。
    • No: 不用。 / 我不用这个手机。
  • Nuances:
    • 不用 = “don’t use” or “no need.” Context usually makes it clear.
    • 没用(过) = “didn’t use (have not used).” E.g., 我没用过这个手机。
Why is it 这 + 个 + 手机 instead of just 这手机?
  • With demonstratives (这/那), standard Mandarin normally requires a measure word: 这 + 个/部/台 + 手机.
  • Dropping the measure word (这手机) is nonstandard in Mainland Mandarin; you’ll hear it in some casual or regional speech, and it’s more common in Taiwan to use a specific classifier instead (e.g., 这支手机).
Is 个 (gè) the best measure word for 手机? What about 部/台/支/款?
  • 个 is the universal “default” classifier and is common in everyday speech: 这个手机.
  • More specific options:
    • 部 (bù): very common for phones/cars/media devices (Mainland): 一部手机, 这部手机。
    • 台 (tái): machines/electronics: 一台手机, 这台手机。
    • 支 (zhī): common in Taiwan for phones: 一支手机, 这支手机。
    • 款 (kuǎn): “model/style”: 这款手机 (“this model of phone”).
  • In formal writing or careful speech, prefer 部/台/款 over 个.
Can I just raise my voice and drop 吗 to ask the question?
  • In casual conversation, yes: 你用这个手机？ with rising intonation.
  • It’s less neutral and can sound like you’re confirming something you suspect. 吗 is the safe default for a neutral yes/no question.
Can I use the A-not-A pattern instead of 吗?
  • Yes. Say: 你用不用这个手机？
  • This sounds a bit more pressing/explicitly binary than the 吗 version. Both are common.
Why not use 呢 (ne) here? What would 你用这个手机呢？ mean?
  • 呢 is not a general yes/no marker. It’s used for follow-up/contrast or to indicate continuation.
  • 你用这个手机呢？ can work only if there’s context (e.g., after discussing someone else’s phone: “What about you—do you use this phone?”). As a stand-alone yes/no question, use 吗.
What’s the difference between 手机 and 电话?
  • 手机 (shǒujī) = mobile/cell phone (also used for smartphones).
  • 电话 (diànhuà) = telephone in general, or a phone call. A landline phone is often 座机.
  • To ask “Do you have this phone?” use 你有这个手机吗？ To ask “Is this your phone?” use 这是你的手机吗？
Pronunciation check: any tone tricks or common pitfalls?
  • Pinyin: nǐ yòng zhège shǒujī ma?
    • 你 nǐ (3), 用 yòng (4), 这 zhè (4), 个 ge (neutral in zhège), 手 shǒu (3), 机 jī (1), 吗 ma (neutral).
  • 个 and 吗 are typically neutral here.
  • You’ll often hear zhèige/zhèi ge for 这个 in casual speech—both are fine.
  • Don’t confuse 吗 (ma, neutral) with 妈 (mā, 1st), 马 (mǎ, 3rd), or 嘛 (ma, modal).
Can I omit the subject and just say 用这个手机吗？
  • Yes, if context makes the subject obvious (e.g., you’re handing someone a phone). Chinese often drops subjects when they’re inferable.
Would 您 be better than 你?
  • Use 您 for politeness, e.g., with customers or older strangers: 您用这个手机吗？
  • The rest of the sentence stays the same.
How do I ask “Which phone do you use?” or “Do you use this model?”
  • Which phone do you use? 你用哪部/哪台手机？ (Mainland) / 你用哪支手机？ (Taiwan)
  • Do you use this model? 你用这款手机吗？
Can I use a more formal word than 用?
  • Yes: 使用 (shǐyòng) is more formal. 你使用这个手机吗？ sounds written/formal or customer-survey-like.
  • In normal speech, 用 is the natural choice.
How does negation work here? Is there a difference between 不 and 没?
  • Habitual/general negation: 不 → 我不用这个手机。
  • Past/experiential negation: 没(有) → 我没(有)用过这个手机 (“I haven’t used this phone before”).
  • Be careful: 没用 by itself often means “useless.” Context like 没用过 avoids ambiguity.

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