When you make a suggestion or request in Chinese, you may want to know whether the other person agrees.
Four useful expressions are:
好吗 (hǎo ma)
可以吗 (kěyǐ ma)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng)
行吗 (xíng ma)
They may look similar, but their main functions are slightly different. Let’s keep it simple. 😊
1. 好吗 (hǎo ma): “Is that okay?”
好吗 is often used to ask for agreement in a friendly or gentle way.
Structure
Suggestion or request + 好吗？
我们休息一下，好吗？
Let’s take a short break, okay?
今天晚上一起吃饭，好吗？
Let’s have dinner together tonight, okay?
💡 Depending on your tone, 好吗 can sound friendly, gentle or persuasive.
2. 可以吗 (kěyǐ ma): “Can I?” or “Is that possible?”
可以吗 is commonly used to ask for permission or check whether something is possible.
Structure
Request or plan + 可以吗？
我坐在这里，可以吗？
Can I sit here?
我们星期五上课，可以吗？
Can we have class on Friday?
💡 Use 可以吗 when permission, rules, time or practical possibility is important.
3. 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng): “What do you think?”
怎么样 asks directly for someone’s opinion or reaction.
Structure
Idea or suggestion + 怎么样？
周末一起去公园，怎么样？
How about going to the park together this weekend?
我们先吃饭，再看电影，怎么样？
How about eating first and then watching a movie?
💡 怎么样 can also ask about a situation or experience:
昨天的考试怎么样？
How was yesterday’s exam?
4. 行吗 (xíng ma): “Does that work?”
行吗 asks whether a request, method or arrangement is acceptable and workable.
It is especially common in spoken Chinese.
Structure
Request or arrangement + 行吗？
我们明天九点见，行吗？
Can we meet at nine tomorrow? Does that work for you?
你先帮我看一下，行吗？
Could you take a look at it for me first?
💡 行吗 is usually more conversational than 可以吗.
The Main Difference
好吗？ — Do you agree?
可以吗？ — Is it allowed or possible?
怎么样？ — What do you think?
行吗？ — Does this work for you?
Compare these four sentences:
我们下午去，好吗？
Let’s go this afternoon, okay?
我们下午去，可以吗？
Can we go this afternoon?
我们下午去，怎么样？
How about going this afternoon?
我们下午去，行吗？
Would going this afternoon work for you?
In many everyday situations, more than one expression may be possible. The best choice depends on what you want to ask.
Affirmative–Negative Forms
In spoken Chinese, three of these expressions also have common affirmative–negative forms:
好吗 → 好不好
可以吗 → 可不可以
行吗 → 行不行
我们休息一下，好不好？
Let’s take a short break, okay?
我用一下你的电脑，可不可以？
Can I use your computer for a moment?
我们坐地铁去，行不行？
Can we take the subway? Would that work?
These forms are natural and common in conversation.
However, tone is important. With a strong or impatient tone, 好不好 and 行不行 may sound demanding.
⚠️ 怎么样 does not have a corresponding affirmative–negative form in this sentence pattern.
Quick Review 🌟
Use 好吗 to ask for friendly agreement.
Use 可以吗 to ask for permission or possibility.
Use 怎么样 to ask for an opinion or evaluation.
Use 行吗 to check whether something is acceptable or workable.
我们一起学习，怎么样？
Wǒmen yìqǐ xuéxí, zěnmeyàng?
How about learning together? 😊