Yes and no — there is no single word
Tests: 3 of 11 right · Exam: 2 of 4 right · Kind: ★ · Understood: 9 of 15 · Run: 2026-10-18, commit f3c23ea72
Lesson 4 of the chinese street course of Mova's primary school, as Mova's small model took its tests: it had read this lesson and the ones before it and learned from their exercises. Each test shows the options in the order the student saw them, its choice, the right answer, the score of every option and why it chose. The lesson itself, sentence by sentence with trees and pragmatics: the lesson in the corpora.
Every question of this lesson and each of its options parsed by Mova, with trees and pragmatics: the lesson's questions in the corpora.
Test 1 · ★ · wrong ✗
«just say yes, it's shì for everything» Which is right?
- 1. Yes, but only at school — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. No, you answer with the question's verb: yǒu, yào, hǎo... — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 3. No, yes is always duì — no support
- 4. Yes, shì answers every question — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 2 · ★ · wrong ✗
«bù yǒu!» says your friend, meaning he hasn't got any. What should it be?
- 1. bú yào le — no support
- 2. méiyǒu — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 3. bù shì de — ← Mova's choice · score 3
- 4. bú shì yǒu — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 3 with score 3, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 2: «Ming asks «shì nǐ de ma?» (is it yours?) and you say shì (it is) or bú shì (it isn't). He asks «yǒu méiyǒu?» (got any?) and you say yǒu or méiyǒu. His granny h…», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+2); the same thing acted on «shì» (+1). The right option, 2, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 3 · ★ · wrong ✗
Ming's granny holds out a plate and you snap «bú yào!». What would happen?
- 1. It sounds blunt; bú yòng le, xièxie is kinder — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. Nothing, it is the polite no — no support
- 3. It means thank you very much — ← Mova's choice · score 4
- 4. She will think you love it and pile on even more — no support
Why: It took the question to ask what happens next. It chose option 3 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 13: «bú yào («BOO YOW!») means don't want, or don't! (stop it!); to a granny offering food, bú yòng le, xièxie (no need, thanks) is kinder.», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: the same action «mean» (+2); the same doer «bú» (+2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 4 · ★ · right ✓
You whine «wèishénme?» (why?) after a parent's bù xíng. What usually happens?
- 1. You get double sweets — no support
- 2. It means «sorry» so it's fine — no support
- 3. The parent changes their mind at once — no support
- 4. It goes down as badly as anywhere — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 2
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 2, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 11: «xíng («shing?», rising) means fine, that works, it's allowed; bù xíng means no way, not allowed, that won't work; whining wèishénme? (why?) after a parent's bù…», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «go down» (+2); the same property (+1). Against it: a different doer (counts against) (-1). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 5 · ★ · wrong ✗
«ming said 'yǒu' means you, like english» Which is right?
- 1. No, yǒu means yes, always and everywhere — ← Mova's choice · score 8
- 2. No, yǒu means have; you is nǐ — ✓ the right answer · score 8
- 3. Yes, but only in songs — no support
- 4. Yes, yǒu is just the English you — no support
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 1 with score 8, tied with another option at 8 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 4, line 14: «yǒu («yo», dipping) means have, there is, yes we have; it is not the English «you», which is nǐ.», reached through the remembered sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «mean» (+4); the same doer «yǒu» (+4). The right option, 2, scored 8. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 6 · ★ · wrong ✗
Your teacher says the answer is 12 and you shout «bú duì!». How does it sound?
- 1. Like sharply contradicting a grown-up — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. Like «I haven't got it, I'm so sorry, Miss» — no support
- 3. Like «I don't want it» — no support
- 4. Like «well done, Miss» — ← Mova's choice · score 6
Why: It took the question to ask what something is like. It chose option 4 with score 6, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 1, line 16: «chī le ma? («CHR luh mah», the ch with the tongue curled back) means «have you eaten?»; grandparents and neighbours use it as a greeting, and the polite answer…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same doer «answer» (+2); the same property (+1). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 7 · ★ · wrong ✗
A friend asks «zhè ge xíng ma?» (does this work?) about your Lego plan. It does. What fits?
- 1. yǒu! — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. yào! — no support
- 3. xíng! — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. shì! — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 8 · ★ · right ✓
In a cartoon Granny asks «yào bu yào?» and the boy answers «duì!». Why is it odd?
- 1. duì means «correct», but she asked if he wants it: yào — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 5
- 2. duì is only said at night — score 5
- 3. duì means no thanks — score 5
- 4. duì is a rude word — no support
Why: It took the question to ask why something happens (its cause). It chose option 1 with score 5, tied with another option at 5 (the first shown, or the one claiming less beyond what it knows, wins). Its support: lesson 4, line 8: «bú duì («BOO DWAY!») means wrong, that's not right; said sharply to a grown-up it sounds like contradicting them.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «mean» (+3); the same doer «bú duì» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 9 · ★ · wrong ✗
«shut up and answer, got any crisps or not» Ming asks yǒu méiyǒu. You don't. What do you say?
- 1. méiyǒu — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. bù xíng — no support
- 3. bú duì — no support
- 4. bú shì — ← Mova's choice · score 7
Why: It took the question to ask what it is done to. It chose option 4 with score 7, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 2: «Ming asks «shì nǐ de ma?» (is it yours?) and you say shì (it is) or bú shì (it isn't). He asks «yǒu méiyǒu?» (got any?) and you say yǒu or méiyǒu. His granny h…», reached through the option's own match among the sentences about the question's things. What matched: it fills the role the question asks for (+3); the same action «say» (+2); the same thing acted on «shì» (+2). The right option, 1, found no support in what it remembers. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 10 · ★ · wrong ✗
Ming's mum: «zuòyè zuò wán le ma?» You've finished. Which fits the trick of repeating the verb?
- 1. duì bu qǐ — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. zuò wán le (done) — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 3. yǒu — no support
- 4. bú yào — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Test 11 · ★ · right ✓
What would happen if you answered every question with hǎo?
- 1. Sometimes it fits, but often it would sound odd or wrong — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · no support
- 2. It is perfect Chinese — no support
- 3. People would think you had said goodbye and were leaving now — no support
- 4. Everyone would think you are angry — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Exam question 1 · formal language · right ✓
Identify the principal manner in which affirmative replies are formed in Mandarin.
- 1. Affirmation is expressed solely by gesture — no support
- 2. A single invariable word signifying «yes» is employed — no support
- 3. The question is repeated with rising intonation — no support
- 4. The verb of the question is repeated in the reply — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
Why: It took the question to ask which statement is true. It chose option 4 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 1: «English has one handy «yes» and one «no». Mandarin doesn't: you answer by repeating the verb of the question, so the «yes» changes every time.», reached through the same lesson line as the sentence the question matched. What matched: the same action «repeat» (+2); the same thing acted on «verb» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Exam question 2 · formal language · wrong ✗
Ascertain the correct negation of the verb yǒu.
- 1. bú yǒu — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. bù yǒu — no support
- 3. méiyǒu — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. bú shì yǒu — no support
Why: Nothing it remembers matched the question, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Exam question 3 · formal language · wrong ✗
Select the response consistent with the established facts concerning the expression bù xíng.
- 1. It denotes the absence of an object — ← Mova's choice · no support
- 2. It signifies enthusiastic and wholehearted agreement with a proposal — no support
- 3. It signifies refusal, prohibition or impracticability — ✓ the right answer · no support
- 4. It is a greeting reserved for elders — no support
Why: No option found support in what it remembers, so it guessed: it took the first option shown. · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
Exam question 4 · formal language · right ✓
Which of the following statements most accurately characterises the reply bú yào addressed to an elder offering food?
- 1. It constitutes an acceptance of the offer — no support
- 2. It expresses gratitude without refusal — no support
- 3. It is blunt, and bú yòng le, xièxie is considered more courteous — ← Mova's choice · ✓ the right answer · score 4
- 4. It is the most deferential refusal available — no support
Why: It took the question to ask who or what does it. It chose option 3 with score 4, the only option with support. Its support: lesson 4, line 13: «bú yào («BOO YOW!») means don't want, or don't! (stop it!); to a granny offering food, bú yòng le, xièxie (no need, thanks) is kinder.», reached through a sentence linked to the one the question matched. What matched: the same action «yòng» (+2); the same thing acted on «le» (+2). · the question and its options parsed, with trees and pragmatics
This page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/chinese-street/4-yes-and-no/