Chinese phrases

How to say who in Chinese

Who in Chinese is 谁 (shéi). It goes where the answer goes: 他是谁? is “who is he?”

谁

shéi

who

Most people say shéi in everyday speech. You also hear shuí, mostly in songs and careful reading. Both are correct.

Ways to say who

谁
shéi
Everyday
who
The question word for any person: 他是谁?, “who is he?”
谁啊
shéi a
Everyday
who is it?
When someone knocks at the door or calls your name from the next room. In speech, 谁啊 often sounds like shéi ya.
请问您是哪位
qǐng wèn nín shì nǎ wèi
On the phone
may I ask who’s calling?
On the phone, when you don’t know the number. The short form is 喂，哪位?
哪位
nǎ wèi
Formal
who; which person (polite)
A polite “who” or “which one of you”: 哪位是王老师?, “which of you is Teacher Wang?”
谁的
shéi de
Everyday
whose
To ask who owns something: 这是谁的?, “whose is this?”

Adding 吗 to a 谁 question
谁 already makes the sentence a question. 他是谁吗 is wrong: say 他是谁?
Moving 谁 to the front
“Who is he?” is 他是谁?, because 谁 takes the place of the answer: 他是李明. 谁是他 sounds odd. To pick him out in a group or a photo, ask 哪个是他?
Saying 你是谁 on the phone
你是谁 can sound like “who are you, and what do you want?” On the phone, say 请问您是哪位 or just 哪位.
Reading every 谁 as a question
With 都 or 也, 谁 means anyone or no one: 谁都知道, “everyone knows,” and 谁也不知道, “nobody knows.”

In the dictionary: 谁 · 请问 · 快递