誰 (shuí) - Who & whom
誰 · shuí
Who;
whom;
which;
what;
someone;
anyone;
whoever;
interrogative pronoun used to ask about people or things.
Whowhomwhich
Usage highlights
Who is it?Whose is this?No matter whoWho knowsFor whomAsk who
Usage & contexts
Examples
- Who is that person?(那个人是谁？)
- Whom are you looking for?(你找谁？)
- Who knows the answer?(谁知道答案？)
- Whoever comes is welcome.(谁来都欢迎。)
Collocations
- Who is it?(是谁？)
- Whose is this?(这是谁的？)
- No matter who(无论谁)
- Who knows(谁知道)
- For whom(为谁)
- Ask who(问谁)
Idioms
- Who is the hero?(谁为英雄)
- Who is right and who is wrong?(谁是谁非)
- Who can compete?(谁能争锋)
- Who doesn't know?(谁人不知)
- Who would have thought?(谁曾想到)
Cultural background
FAQ- Originally written as 誰 in traditional form, simplified to 谁 in mainland China.
- Frequently appears in classical Chinese poetry and literature as an interrogative pronoun.
- In modern usage, often appears in rhetorical questions and philosophical inquiries.