In this workshop you will practise asking and answering simple questions about brothers, sisters and parents' work. You will read short recorded lines, learn what each one means in English, and then take both roles in a guided exchange. The focus is on clear, polite questions and short, natural replies.
Asking about siblings
Start with a simple yes-or-no question about brothers and sisters. The recorded line «你有兄弟姐妹吗？» means "Do you have any siblings?". A short reply can name an older brother and a younger sister, as in «有，我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。», which means "Yes, I have an older brother and a younger sister.". If you want a number instead of a yes-or-no answer, use «你有几个兄弟姐妹？», which means "How many siblings do you have?". Notice that the subject stays the same: you are still asking about siblings, not about parents or jobs.
Asking about parents' work
To ask about a parent's job, use a question about what that person does. The line «你爸爸做什么？» means "What does your father do?". The line «你妈妈做什么？» means "What does your mother do?". A natural follow-up after hearing about a brother or sister is «真的吗？你哥哥做什么？», which means "Really? What does your older brother do?". When you answer, you can give a short job word and then return a question, as in «他是老师。你爸爸做什么？», which means "He is a teacher. What does your father do?".
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
你有兄弟姐妹吗？
Do you have any siblings?
nǐ yǒu xiōngdì jiěmèi ma
你爸爸做什么？
What does your father do?
nǐ bàba zuò shénme
你妈妈做什么？
What does your mother do?
nǐ māma zuò shénme
你有几个兄弟姐妹？
How many siblings do you have?
nǐ yǒu jǐ ge xiōngdì jiěmèi
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
你有兄弟姐妹吗？
Do you have any siblings?有，我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。
Yes, I have an older brother and a younger sister.真的吗？你哥哥做什么？
Really? What does your older brother do?他是老师。你爸爸做什么？
He is a teacher. What does your father do?Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided sibling exchange
You will take both roles in a short exchange about siblings. First read the question, then read the reply. Keep the order: question first, reply second.
Your task: Read «你有兄弟姐妹吗？» aloud as the first speaker. Then read «有，我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。» aloud as the second speaker. After that, read «真的吗？你哥哥做什么？» aloud as the first speaker again.
Choose the matching reply
You will hear or read a question and choose the reply that fits it. The reply must answer the same topic as the question.
Your task: Question: «你爸爸做什么？». Which reply fits: «他是老师。你爸爸做什么？» or «有，我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。»? Say your choice aloud, then read the full reply you chose.
Recall with correct roles
You will rebuild a short exchange from memory. One person asks about siblings, the other answers and then asks about a parent's work.
Your task: First speaker says «你有兄弟姐妹吗？». Second speaker says «有，我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹。». First speaker says «真的吗？你哥哥做什么？». Second speaker says «他是老师。你爸爸做什么？». Read all four lines in that order.
Common questions
Can I practise alone if I am not sure how to pronounce the lines?
Yes. Read each recorded line slowly, then repeat it after the audio. You can play both roles yourself, and you can use the success criteria to check your own order and topic.
What should I do if I mix up the sibling question and the parent question?
Pause and check the topic. «你有兄弟姐妹吗？» and «你有几个兄弟姐妹？» are about siblings, while «你爸爸做什么？» and «你妈妈做什么？» are about a parent's work. Keep the same topic in the question and its reply, then continue the exchange.
Sources and further reading
- chinese: ask about friends familyChecked September 2026
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