哪儿/什么/谁 as 'some' (indefinite)

• Pinyin: nǎr, shénme, shéi
• Formation: Subj. + 好像在哪儿 + Verb + 过 :: Subj. + Verb + (点儿)什么 :: 谁 + 都/也 + Verb
• Hanzi breakdown: 哪 = 口 (mouth) + 那 (that); 谁 = 讠(speech) + 隹 (short-tailed bird)

Meaning

Question words like 哪儿, 什么, and 谁 can function as indefinite pronouns meaning 'somewhere,' 'something,' or 'someone' when used in non-question contexts.

In Mandarin, question words have a dual function: they can ask questions or serve as indefinite references. When not in a question structure, 哪儿 means 'somewhere,' 什么 means 'something,' and 谁 means 'someone.' This usage often appears with verbs like 好像, 似乎, or in clauses expressing uncertainty. The key difference from their interrogative use is the sentence intonation and context — no question is being asked. Learners often struggle with this because in English, question words and indefinite pronouns are completely different words. This pattern is especially common in casual spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 我好像在哪儿见过你。 I think I've seen you somewhere before.
2. 他想吃点儿什么。 He wants to eat something.
3. 谁都不愿意加班。 Nobody wants to work overtime.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 你想喝点儿什么吗？
• 我总觉得在哪儿丢了东西。
• 谁都可以参加这个活动。
• 他好像在找什么。

Don't Say

• 我在哪儿看了他？(Adding 了 and question intonation turns this back into a question — for indefinite meaning, use 过 and statement intonation) → 我好像在哪儿见过他。
• 什么人都不来了。(什么 as indefinite works with 都/也, but pairing it with a specific negated result sounds unnatural — use 谁都不来了 instead) → 谁都不来了。

Origin & History

The use of question words as indefinite pronouns is a distinctive feature of Chinese grammar with roots in classical Chinese. This dual function developed naturally because both questions and indefinite references share the concept of unknown or unspecified information.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal