你是同性恋吗？
nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?
The English phrase "are you gay?" is translated into Chinese as 你是同性恋吗？ (nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?)
This phrase is a direct question used to ask if someone is attracted to people of their own sex.
Which one should you use?
While 你是同性恋吗？ is a standard direct question, 请问你是同性恋吗? is a more polite version and 你是同志吗? is a common way to ask using a term that is less clinical. 你是G吗? is a colloquial version used in casual speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
请问你是同性恋吗? and 你是同性恋吗? are formal ways to ask the question. 你是同志吗? is an informal option, while 你是G吗? is colloquial.
How does it change in a sentence?
The question is formed by adding the particle 吗 (ma) to the end of the declarative statement 你是同性恋 (You are gay).
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?
When do people say it?
In many social contexts, using the term 同志 (tóngzhì) is a more common and slightly less clinical way to refer to someone in the LGBTQ+ community than the formal term 同性恋.
Did you know?
- The word 同志 (tóngzhì) used to be a standard political term for 'comrade' in mainland China. While it once signaled political alignment, it is now widely used as a friendly, informal way to refer to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
- In some LGBTQ+ circles, the word 同志 (tóngzhì) is used as an inclusive umbrella term for the whole community, similar to 'Queer' in English.
- The transition of 同志 (tóngzhì) from 'comrade' to 'gay' happened largely in the 1980s and 90s in cities like Taipei and Hong Kong before spreading to mainland China.
Examples in context
- 你是同性恋吗？Nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?Are you gay?
- 对不起，请问你是同性恋吗？Duìbuqǐ, qǐngwèn nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?Sorry, may I ask if you are gay?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their dating lives.
- 浩然 Haoran我想知道，你是同性恋吗？Wǒ xiǎng zhīdào, nǐ shì tóngxìngliàn ma?I want to know, are you gay?
- 佳怡 Jiayi不，我不是同性恋。Bù, wǒ bùshì tóngxìngliàn.No, I am not gay.
- 浩然 Haoran哦，我明白了。Ó, wǒ míngbai le.Oh, I understand.
- 佳怡 Jiayi没关系，谢谢你的关心。Méiguānxì, xièxiè nǐ de guānxīn.It's okay, thanks for asking.
