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谁
shuí
What does "谁" mean in English?
who这是谁的书？
Whose book is this?
How to use "谁" correctly: definitions and examples in English?
informal
Used to ask about the identity of a person
你在等谁？
Who are you waiting for?
谁能帮我一下？
Who can help me?
Used in questions to inquire about a person's identity. In statements, it often implies uncertainty or vagueness about the person.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Question Formation
谁 can be used directly in questions without needing a question word like 'do' or 'does' in English. The sentence structure follows a simple question format: 谁 + verb + object?
Gold Rule
Position in Sentences
In questions, 谁 typically appears at the beginning or immediately after the verb. In statements, it often follows the subject or verb to indicate uncertainty.
Word Origin
From Old Chinese 誰 (*/*[d]uʔ/), related to 何 (*/*[ɡ]ʷˤaj/) 'what' and 人 'person'. The modern form 谁 emerged during the Middle Chinese period.
Usage Notes
谁 is used in both questions and rhetorical statements. In questions, it often appears at the beginning or after a verb. In statements, it can express uncertainty or imply that the speaker doesn't know the person.
Word Breakdown
誰
who (person)
root汉英词典