How to Say ‘Is this book of yours about hiking?’ in Traditional Chinese
你這本書是講爬山的嗎？
nǐ zhè běn shū shì jiǎng pá shān de ma
[nǐ zhè běn shū shir jiǎng páshān de ma]
💬 Usage Tip: Wrapping a topic in 是講…的 asks what something is about: 這部電影是講愛情的嗎？ "Is this movie about love?"
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Asking about a book someone is holding is a low-pressure opener in Taiwan; it gives them an easy topic rather than putting them on the spot.
Phrase Breakdown
你這本書
nǐ zhè běn shū
this book of yours
你這本書 means 'this book you have'. It names the topic of the question.
你這本書在哪裡買的？
Where did you buy this book?
Words in this phrase
你
nǐ
[nǐ]
you
Refers to the person being spoken to.
你今天看起來很高興。
You look happy today.
這
zhè
[zhè]
this
Indicates a specific object mentioned or nearby.
殘劍的這張字表達了他的思想。
Broken Sword's piece of calligraphy expresses his thoughts.
本
běn
[běn]
measure word for books
Classifier used for books, magazines, and notebooks.
我買了一本小說。
I bought a novel.
書
shū
[shū]
book
A book; here a noun, not the verb 'write'.
這本書很好看。
This book is very good.
是講爬山的嗎？
shì jiǎng pá shān de ma
is it about hiking?
講 here means 'to be about'. 爬山 means 'hiking / mountain climbing'.
這部電影是講什麼的？
What is this movie about?
Words in this phrase
是
shì
[shir]
to be; am/is/are
是 is the verb 'to be' used for identity, emphasis, or agreement.
我也是剛畢業的新鮮人。
I am also a recent graduate.
講
jiǎng
[jiǎng]
to be about; to talk about
Means a book, movie, or talk is about a topic.
這部電影是講愛情的。
This movie is about love.
爬山
pá shān
[páshān]
hiking; mountain climbing
Literally 'climb mountain'; a popular hobby in Taiwan.
週末我們去爬山。
We go hiking on the weekend.
的
de
[de]
(nominalizing particle)
At the end of 是…的, it turns a description into a noun-like phrase: 'a red one'.
這本書是新的。
This book is new.
嗎
ma
[ma]
question particle
A sentence-final particle used to turn a statement into a yes-no question.
你喜歡這個活動嗎？
Do you like this event?
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