Asking Basic Personal Questions in Mandarin Chinese: Origin, Age, Job, Nationality, and Zodiac
Learn to ask and answer five common personal questions in Mandarin: where someone is from, their age, job, nationality, and zodiac sign, with polite patterns and a natural dialogue.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In Mandarin, personal questions often follow simple patterns with 你 (nǐ, you) plus a question word. This lesson teaches five high-frequency questions: 你从哪里来 (Where are you from?), 你多大 (How old are you?), 你做什么工作 (What do you do?), 你是哪国人 (What nationality are you?), and 你属什么 (What is your Chinese zodiac sign?). You will learn the exact word order, when each question is appropriate, and how to answer naturally. The focus is on open-ended questions that invite sharing, not just yes/no answers. By the end, you can start a friendly conversation with a new acquaintance in a culturally appropriate way.
By the end, you can…
- ask and answer where someone is from using 你从哪里来 and 你是哪国人.
- ask about age, job, and zodiac sign using 你多大, 你做什么工作, and 你属什么.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
你从哪里来？
Where are you from?
nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái
General question about origin; can refer to city, province, or country. Often answered with 我从…来 (wǒ cóng… lái, I come from…).
你多大？
How old are you?
nǐ duō dà
Common for asking the age of someone around your age or younger. For young children, 你几岁 (nǐ jǐ suì) is more natural. For older adults, 您多大年纪 (nín duō dà nián jì) is more respectful.
你做什么工作？
What do you do for work?
nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò
Neutral and widely used. A more formal alternative is 您的职业是什么 (nín de zhí yè shì shén me).
你是哪国人？
What nationality are you?
nǐ shì nǎ guó rén
Asks specifically about nationality. Answer with 我是…人 (wǒ shì… rén), e.g., 我是美国人 (I am American).
你属什么？
What is your Chinese zodiac sign?
nǐ shǔ shénme
Refers to the twelve-animal cycle. Answer with 我属… (wǒ shǔ…), e.g., 我属龙 (I am a dragon). This question is common among Chinese speakers but may be unfamiliar to non-Chinese.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Most personal questions in Mandarin use 你 (nǐ, you) + verb + question word. For origin, 你从哪里来 uses 从 (cóng, from) + 哪里 (nǎ lǐ, where) + 来 (lái, come). For nationality, 你是哪国人 uses 是 (shì, to be) + 哪国 (nǎ guó, which country) + 人 (rén, person). For job, 你做什么工作 uses 做 (zuò, do) + 什么 (shén me, what) + 工作 (gōng zuò, work). For age, 你多大 uses 多 (duō, how) + 大 (dà, big/old). For zodiac, 你属什么 uses 属 (shǔ, belong to) + 什么. Note that 你几岁 is only for children; for adults, 你多大 is standard. To be polite, add 请问 (qǐng wèn, may I ask) at the start: 请问，你从哪里来？
When to use it
Use 你从哪里来 when you want to know someone's hometown or country without assuming nationality. Use 你是哪国人 when nationality is the focus, such as in international settings. Use 你多大 for age among peers or younger people; avoid it with strangers much older than you unless the context is casual. Use 你做什么工作 in most casual and professional introductions. Use 你属什么 only if you know the person is familiar with Chinese zodiac culture or after the topic arises; it can be a fun way to connect. In formal situations, replace 你 with 您 (nín) for respect: 您从哪里来？ 您多大年纪？ 您做什么工作？ 您是哪国人？ 您属什么？
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好！请问你从哪里来？
Hello! May I ask where you are from?nǐ hǎo qǐngwèn nǐ cóng nǎlǐ lái我从北京来。你呢？
I come from Beijing. And you?wǒ cóng Běijīng lái nǐ ne我是美国人。你做什么工作？
I am American. What do you do for work?wǒ shì Měiguó rén nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò我是老师。你多大？
I am a teacher. How old are you?wǒ shì lǎoshī nǐ duō dàA little context goes a long way
Age and zodiac questions can be sensitive. In many Chinese-speaking contexts, asking age is common among peers, but with older adults or in formal settings, use 您多大年纪 or avoid direct age questions. Zodiac questions are usually lighthearted and can be a good icebreaker if the other person knows their sign. Nationality questions are neutral, but be aware that some people may prefer to answer with their city or region first. Always match 你/您 to the social distance.
One thing to watch for
Using 你几岁 to ask an adult's age.
Try this instead: 你几岁 is only for young children. For adults, use 你多大 or the polite 您多大年纪. Example: 你多大？ is fine for a peer; 您多大年纪？ is better for an older stranger.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a new acquaintance where they are from?
Show a sample answer
你从哪里来？
This is the standard open-ended question for origin. 你是哪国人 is also correct but specifically asks nationality, not general origin.
2What is a polite way to ask an older person's age?
Show a sample answer
您多大年纪？
Using 您 and 年纪 shows respect. 你多大 is acceptable among peers but may sound too direct with an older stranger.
3How do you ask someone's Chinese zodiac sign?
Show a sample answer
你属什么？
This is the common question. The answer uses 我属…, e.g., 我属龙. It is not a question about the Western zodiac.
Use 你从哪里来, 你多大, 你做什么工作, 你是哪国人, and 你属什么 to start friendly conversations. Adjust 你 to 您 for respect, and remember that 你几岁 is only for children.
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