\{Va°}/ (否) is used as the sign of a direct question, expecting the
answer “yes” or “no.” It is added at the end of the sentence. Thus
\{°di-kuh °z noong° kuh va°?}/ (第個是儂個否) means, “is this yours?”
\{°Di-kuh °hau va°?}/ (第個好否) means, “is this good?” (the verb
\{°z}/ being omitted). The Chinese do not use a rising inflection of
the voice to indicate that a question is being asked.
\{Meh}/ (末) is used for asking a question when the action is presumed
to have been completed. Thus \{van° chuh meh?}/ (飯吃末) means, “have
you eaten your rice?” or “have you dined?” \{Sien-sang chi° meh?}/
(先生去末) means, “has the teacher gone?”
\{Nyi}/ (呢) is used for asking a question implying the alternative.
Thus \{noong° chi° nyi ’veh chi°?}/ (儂去呢勿去) means, “are you going or
not going?” \{noong° le nyi ’veh le?}/ (儂來呢勿來) means, “are you
coming or not coming?”
\{Nyi}/ (呢) is also used in a question expecting a negative answer,
but the explanation of this must be reserved until later.
“Who” is \{sa°}/ (啥). In this sense it is always joined to the noun
\{nyung}/ (人). Thus \{sa° nyung?}/ (啥人) means, “who?” Pidgin
English, “who man?”
\{Sa°}/ (啥) is also used in the sense of “what.” It sometimes
precedes the noun as \{sa° sang-i°?}/ (啥生意). “what business?” In a
sentence like “what do you want,” it follows the verb. Thus \{noong°
iau° sa°}/ (儂要啥). Literally, “you want what?”
\{Sa°}/ is also used with \{va°}/ in the sense of “any,” in asking a
question, Thus \{noong° iau° sa° va°?}/ (儂要啥否) means, “do you want
anything?” \{°Yeu sa° nyung iau° chi° va°?}/ (有啥人要去否) means, “does
any one wish to go?” \{Noong° °yeu sa° doong-dien va°?}/ (儂有啥銅錢否)
means, “have you any cash?”
Which is \{°‘a-°li}/ (那裏). It is always used with numeral and
classifier. Thus \{°‘a-°li ih kuh nyung?}/ (那裏一個人) means, “which
man?” \{°‘A-°li ih diau loo°?}/ (那裏一條路) means, “which road?”
\{°‘A-°li ih °pung su?}/ (那裏一本書 ) means, “which book?” \{°‘A-°li
°liang °po tau?}/ (那裏兩把刀) means, “which two knives?” When the
subject is understood about which you are conversing, the noun may be
omitted, and \{°‘a-°li}/ with the numeral and the classifier are
sufficient. Thus in speaking of roads \{°‘a-°li ih diao?}/ would be
enough.
“No” or “not”, is expressed by \’veh/ (勿). Thus \{yi ’veh iau° chi°}/
(伊勿要去) means, “he does not wish to go.”
\{M-meh}/ (無末) is used in the sense of “not any” in answering a
question asking whether you have any, thus \{noong° °yeu sa°
yang-dien va°?}/ (濃有啥洋錢否) “have you any dollars?”, the answer
might be \{m-meh}/.
Sometimes \{m-sa°}/ (無啥) is used in answering questions in the
negative. Thus \{noong° °yeu sa° tsoo° va°?}/ (儂有啥做否) “have you
anything to do?” (Have you any employment?) The answer might be
\{m-sa° tsoo°}/ (無啥做) “not anything to do.”
No one is \{m-sa°-nyung}/ (無啥人). Thus \{°yeu sa° nyung le va°?}/
(有啥人來否), “has any one come?” The answer might be \{m-sa° nyung}/
(無啥人).