shéi: 谁 - Who, Whom

• Keywords: 谁, shéi, shuí, who in Chinese, Chinese question word, how to ask who in Chinese, interrogative pronoun, Chinese grammar, learn Chinese, HSK 1, who vs whom Chinese
• Summary: Learn how to use “谁” (shéi / shuí), the essential Chinese interrogative pronoun for “who” and “whom”. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, character breakdown, cultural nuances, practical grammar, and provides 10+ example sentences. Discover the difference between the common “shéi” and formal “shuí” pronunciations and avoid common mistakes English speakers make with Chinese question word order.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shéi / shuí
• Part of Speech: Interrogative Pronoun
• HSK Level: 1
• Concise Definition: An interrogative pronoun used to ask “who” or “whom”.
• In a Nutshell: “谁” is the fundamental word you use in Mandarin to ask about a person's identity. Think of it as the direct equivalent of “who.” One of the most important things for a beginner to know is that, unlike in English, “谁” simply takes the place of the person in the sentence you are asking about, so the basic sentence structure doesn't change.

• 谁 (shéi): This is a phono-semantic compound character.
  • 讠(yán): The “speech” radical on the left. This radical is a simplified form of 言 and indicates that the character is related to speaking, language, or asking questions.
  • 隹 (zhuī): The component on the right. In ancient Chinese, it meant “short-tailed bird.” In this character, its primary function is phonetic, providing the sound for the word.
• The combination of the “speech” radical and the phonetic component “隹” creates a character used for asking a question about a person.

While “谁” is a basic question word, its usage can touch upon important cultural norms of directness and politeness. In many Western cultures, asking a stranger “Who are you?” can be a neutral, direct question depending on the context. In Chinese culture, however, directly asking an unfamiliar person “你是谁？” (Nǐ shì shéi? - Who are you?) can sound blunt, confrontational, or even rude. It implies a demand for identity and can create an uncomfortable situation. It is culturally preferred to use more indirect and respectful ways to inquire about someone's identity, especially a superior or elder. For example, one might ask:

• 请问您贵姓？ (Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?) - “May I ask your honorable surname?” (Very formal)
• 请问您怎么称呼？ (Qǐngwèn nín zěnme chēnghu?) - “May I ask how I should address you?” (Polite and common)

This highlights a broader cultural value of maintaining harmony and showing respect (giving “face” or miànzi) by avoiding overly direct or potentially challenging questions.

“谁” is an incredibly versatile word used daily.

• As a Question Word (“Who?”): This is its most common function. It directly replaces the noun (the person) in a statement to form a question.
  • Statement: 他是我的老师。 (Tā shì wǒ de lǎoshī.) - He is my teacher.
  • Question: 谁是你的老师？ (Shéi shì nǐ de lǎoshī?) - Who is your teacher?
• As an Indefinite Pronoun (“Whoever,” “Anyone”): “谁” can also mean “whoever” or “anyone,” especially when used with 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě).
  • 谁想来都可以。 (Shéi xiǎng lái dōu kěyǐ.) - Whoever wants to come is welcome.
• In Rhetorical Questions: It can be used rhetorically to mean “nobody” or “everyone.”
  • 这件事谁不知道啊？ (Zhè jiàn shì shéi bù zhīdào a?) - Who doesn't know about this? (Implying: Everyone knows.)
• Pronunciation Note (shéi vs. shuí):
  • shéi: The overwhelmingly common pronunciation in daily, spoken Mandarin across mainland China. It's informal and natural.
  • shuí: The more traditional, formal pronunciation. You will hear it in news broadcasts, formal speeches, and when singing. While grammatically correct, using it in casual conversation can sound a bit stiff or overly formal. Beginners should default to shéi.

• Example 1:
  • 他是谁？
  • Pinyin: Tā shì shéi?
  • English: Who is he?
  • Analysis: The most basic question structure. “谁” simply replaces the unknown person in the object position of the sentence.
• Example 2:
  • 谁吃了我的蛋糕？
  • Pinyin: Shéi chīle wǒ de dàngāo?
  • English: Who ate my cake?
  • Analysis: Here, “谁” acts as the subject of the sentence. The word order is exactly the same as the equivalent statement would be (e.g., “小明吃了我的蛋糕” - Xiǎo Míng ate my cake).
• Example 3:
  • 你在找谁？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zài zhǎo shéi?
  • English: Who are you looking for?
  • Analysis: A very common question. “谁” is the object of the verb “找” (zhǎo - to look for). Notice how it comes at the end, unlike in English.
• Example 4:
  • 这是谁的书？
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì shéi de shū?
  • English: Whose book is this?
  • Analysis: Adding the possessive particle 的 (de) after “谁” creates the meaning “whose.”
• Example 5:
  • 谁想去，谁就去吧。
  • Pinyin: Shéi xiǎng qù, shéi jiù qù ba.
  • English: Whoever wants to go, just go.
  • Analysis: This structure “谁…, 谁就…” is a common way to say “Whoever does X, that person does Y.” It shows the use of “谁” as an indefinite pronoun.
• Example 6:
  • 这个问题，我应该问谁？
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge wèntí, wǒ yīnggāi wèn shéi?
  • English: Regarding this question, who should I ask?
  • Analysis: This shows a more complex sentence where the topic (“这个问题”) is fronted, but the core grammar “我问谁” (I ask who) remains intact.
• Example 7:
  • 除了他，还有谁知道？
  • Pinyin: Chúle tā, hái yǒu shéi zhīdào?
  • English: Besides him, who else knows?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates “谁” used in combination with other adverbs like “还” (hái - also, else).
• Example 8:
  • 谁说不是呢？
  • Pinyin: Shéi shuō búshì ne?
  • English: Who says it isn't? (Exactly! / I agree!)
  • Analysis: A common rhetorical phrase used to express strong agreement. The literal meaning is a question, but the function is to agree with what someone just said.
• Example 9:
  • 不管谁来，我都不开门。
  • Pinyin: Bùguǎn shéi lái, wǒ dōu bù kāimén.
  • English: No matter who comes, I'm not opening the door.
  • Analysis: Using “不管” (bùguǎn - no matter) with “谁” reinforces the “whoever/anyone” meaning.
• Example 10:
  • 你以为你是谁啊？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǐwéi nǐ shì shéi a?
  • English: Who do you think you are?
  • Analysis: A confrontational, rhetorical question, just like its English counterpart. The tone is aggressive.

• Mistake 1: Incorrect Word Order.
  • English speakers often try to put “who” at the front of the sentence, as in English.
  • Incorrect: 谁你在找？ (Shéi nǐ zài zhǎo?)
  • Correct: 你在找谁？ (Nǐ zài zhǎo shéi?)
  • Rule of Thumb: Formulate the statement first (e.g., “我在找妈妈” - I am looking for Mom). Then, simply replace the person/answer (“妈妈”) with “谁” to form the question.
• Mistake 2: Overusing the formal “shuí”.
  • While not technically “incorrect,” using “shuí” in casual chat with friends can make you sound like a textbook or a news anchor. Stick to “shéi” for 99% of your daily conversations to sound more natural.
• Mistake 3: Being Too Direct.
  • As mentioned in the cultural section, asking “你是谁?” (Nǐ shì shéi?) can be impolite. It's a common mistake for beginners who directly translate “Who are you?”. Opt for a softer approach like “请问您是…?” (Qǐngwèn nín shì…? - May I ask, you are…?).

• 什么 (shénme) - What; The question word for things and concepts.
• 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr) - Where; The question word for places.
• 哪个 (nǎge / něige) - Which (one); Used to ask for a choice from a specific set of options.
• 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) - When; The question phrase for time.
• 为什么 (wèishénme) - Why; The question word for reasons.
• 怎么 (zěnme) - How; Used to ask about the manner or method of an action.
• 几 (jǐ) - How many; Typically used for asking about numbers expected to be small (under 10).
• 多少 (duōshao) - How many / how much; Used for asking about larger numbers or prices.