Chinese · Question Words
谁
shéi
Who
Beginnerpronoun
Definition
Used to ask about a person.
Example
那个人是谁？
Who is that person?
Etymology
'谁' (shéi) has its origins in ancient interrogative forms for inquiring about people. Its structure has remained relatively unchanged through Chinese history.
How & Where It’s Used
'谁' (shéi) is used informally and formally in spoken language, primarily to ask about someone's identity and is consistent across most Chinese dialects.