How to say “do you speak English” in Chinese
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
Tone tip
会 (huì) means 'can' in the sense of a learned skill. 吗 (ma) on the end turns any statement into a yes/no question.
In a sentence
请问，你会说英语吗？
Qǐngwèn, nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?
Excuse me, do you speak English?
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "do you speak English" in Chinese?+
"do you speak English" in Mandarin Chinese is 你会说英语吗, pronounced nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma. 会 (huì) means 'can' in the sense of a learned skill. 吗 (ma) on the end turns any statement into a yes/no question.
What does 你会说英语吗 mean literally?+
你会说英语吗 breaks down as 你 (nǐ) = you, 会 (huì) = can / know how to, 说 (shuō) = to speak, 英语 (yīngyǔ) = English, 吗 (ma) = (yes/no question marker). Together it means "do you speak English".
How do I get the tones right in nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?+
会 (huì) means 'can' in the sense of a learned skill. 吗 (ma) on the end turns any statement into a yes/no question.
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