Questions · Over text
Questions to ask over text that get a real reply
Questions for texting someone you like, a new friend or a partner on a busy week. They are short enough to answer in a line and specific enough that the reply has something in it.
- 18 questions
- EN + TL on every card
- Free in the app
Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.
Imagine your future self laughing at one thing you're doing now. What is it?
Imagine yung future self mo natatawa sa isang ginagawa mo ngayon. Ano yun?
Future you may have a softer sense of humor about today. Some things feel bigger before time makes them funny.
Baka mas soft na tumawa ang future self mo sa today. May bagay na malaki ngayon, pero funny later.
The questions
18 questions to ask over text
Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.
Answer in one line
6 questions
Quick picks for the middle of a workday.
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Which would you want free for life: breakfast or dessert?
Pumili ng libreng pagkain habambuhay: breakfast o dessert.
Back of the card
Make your first order. You can choose something familiar or invent a dish.
Piliin ang unang oorderin mo. Puwedeng paborito mo na o pagkaing iimbentuhin mo.
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Would you rather know the exact weather or the exact traffic before leaving home?
Bago umalis, alin ang gusto mong siguradong alam: lagay ng panahon o lagay ng traffic?
Back of the card
Imagine you check before a day out. What would you pack differently?
Isipin na nag-check ka bago ang lakad. Ano ang iibahin mo sa mga dadalhin mo?
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Pick one view for a quiet morning: a beach sunrise or city lights before dawn.
Sa tahimik na umaga, alin ang gusto mong tanawin: pagsikat ng araw sa beach o city lights bago sumikat ang araw?
Back of the card
Picture the view. Which detail would you want to remember?
Isipin ang tanawin. Anong detalye ang gusto mong maalala?
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Pick one drink that makes an ordinary day feel a little special.
Pumili ng isang drink na nagpaparamdam na medyo special ang ordinary day.
Back of the card
A drink can turn an ordinary pause into a tiny celebration. Sometimes that small upgrade is the whole point.
Minsan isang drink lang, parang may small celebration na sa ordinary day. Yun na yung tiny upgrade.
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Describe your ideal electric fan or aircon setting.
I-describe yung ideal electric fan o aircon setting mo.
Back of the card
Temperature preferences can become a whole personality. Comfort has settings, and everyone defends theirs a little.
Yung temperature preference, minsan personality na rin. May settings ang comfort, at may kanya-kanya tayong ipinaglalaban.
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Would you rather have someone cook or clean for you?
Mas gusto mo bang may magluto o maglinis para sa'yo?
Back of the card
Picture doing something you enjoy while they handle the task.
Isipin ang masayang gagawin mo habang sila ang bahala.
Ones that invite a story back
6 questions
The reply is usually longer than the question. Sometimes a photo comes with it.
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Finish this: I almost panicked when I accidentally sent...
Tapusin ito: Halos nag-panic ako nung accidentally kong na-send...
Back of the card
Wrong sends create instant suspense. The few seconds after realizing it can feel longer than the whole day.
Iba yung kaba ng wrong send. Yung ilang seconds after ma-realize, parang humahaba bigla yung buong araw.
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Share one time your timing was really off and it became funny later.
Mag-share ng time na sobrang sablay ng timing mo at naging funny later.
Back of the card
Bad timing can be annoying in the moment and hilarious later. It has a way of turning itself into comedy.
Yung bad timing, nakakainis sa moment pero funny later. Parang kusa siyang nagiging comedy pag binalikan.
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What funny experience made you late to meet a friend?
Anong nakakatawang nangyari kaya ka na-late sa pagkikita ninyo ng friend?
Back of the card
Retell the delay as a very dramatic excuse, if you like.
Kung gusto mo, ikuwento ang pagka-late na parang sobrang dramatic na palusot.
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While waiting for food, a ride, or someone late, how do you pass the time?
Habang naghihintay ng pagkain, sasakyan, o late na tao, paano mo pinapalipas yung oras?
Back of the card
Waiting brings out our tiny survival styles. Some people scroll, some observe, and some start making stories in their head.
Lumilitaw yung tiny survival style natin kapag naghihintay. May nag-scroll, may nag-oobserve, may gumagawa na ng kwento sa isip.
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Describe a funny photo of yourself that you would happily show your friends.
Ikuwento ang isang funny photo mo na okay lang sa'yong ipakita sa friends.
Back of the card
No need to show it. What caption would fit the photo?
Hindi kailangang ipakita. Anong caption ang babagay sa photo?
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Describe your favorite quiet moment at home in one sentence.
I-describe in one sentence yung favorite mong tahimik na moment sa bahay.
Back of the card
Quiet at home can be its own kind of treat. Sometimes the best part is that nothing needs to happen.
Yung tahimik sa bahay, treat din minsan. Minsan best part na yung walang kailangang mangyari.
For a late-night text
6 questions
When the replies are slower and a little more honest.
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If you could pause time, when would you use it?
Kung kaya mong i-pause ang oras, kailan mo ito gagamitin?
Back of the card
During the pause, would you rush to do something or enjoy the quiet?
Habang naka-pause, may mamadaliin ka bang gawin o mae-enjoy mo ang katahimikan?
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What day from the past would you like to watch?
Anong araw sa nakaraan ang gusto mong mapanood?
Back of the card
Pause on one scene from that day. Which detail would you want to look at longer?
Huminto muna sa isang eksena ng araw na iyon. Anong detalye ang gusto mong tingnan nang mas matagal?
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Which part of your day do you look forward to?
Anong part ng araw mo ang inaabangan mo?
Back of the card
The part you look forward to can be a clue. It shows where your day still gives you a little life.
Clue din yung part na inaabangan mo. Ipinapakita niya kung saan may konting buhay pa sa araw mo.
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Which small plan are you looking forward to?
Anong small plan ang nilu-look forward mo?
Back of the card
Looking forward to something simple can help a week feel kinder. Small plans are allowed to matter.
Nakakagaan ng week kapag may simpleng nilu-look forward. Puwedeng maging mahalaga kahit maliit na plan lang.
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Imagine your future self laughing at one thing you're doing now. What is it?
Imagine yung future self mo natatawa sa isang ginagawa mo ngayon. Ano yun?
Back of the card
Future you may have a softer sense of humor about today. Some things feel bigger before time makes them funny.
Baka mas soft na tumawa ang future self mo sa today. May bagay na malaki ngayon, pero funny later.
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Which compliment from a friend made you smile recently?
Anong compliment mula sa friend ang nagpangiti sa'yo lately?
Back of the card
Did you believe it right away, or did it sink in later?
Naniwala ka ba agad, o saka mo lang ito naramdaman?
How to use them
Before you ask
A good question to ask over text can be answered in one line but invites more: which they would want free for life, breakfast or dessert; the message they almost panicked about sending; what they would do if they could pause time. Text is a slow, patchy medium, so the question has to carry more of the work than it would face to face.
The usual mistake is asking something too big for a phone screen. “What are your goals?” sent at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday gets “lol idk, you?”. Quick picks work while people are busy. Story questions work in the evening, when there is time to type a paragraph. The late-night set is for the hour when replies come slower and a little more honest.
Send one question, answer it yourself in the same message, and leave room for them to ask one back. If the thread is still going after twenty minutes, that is usually a sign to call.
Good for
Tips
- Match the question to the time of day: quick picks at lunch, stories after dinner.
- Add your own answer so the reply isn’t a cold start.
- A question with two options is easier to reply to than an open one.
- Don’t double-text a question if the first one is unanswered. Wait for a reply or a new day.
- When an answer is clearly a story, ask to hear it on a call.
Decks for this
Questions to ask over text
Frequently asked questions
What are good questions to ask over text?
Questions that can be answered in a line but invite more: a quick either-or, a small embarrassing story, a favorite drink or sound. They are easy to reply to on a busy day and give you something to follow up on.
How do you start a conversation over text without it being awkward?
Skip “hey” and send one light, specific question with your own answer attached. Specific questions feel less like an interview and give the other person an easy way in.
Are these good for texting a crush?
Yes. Start with the one-line picks, move to the story questions once replies come quickly, and keep the late-night ones for when you are both clearly enjoying the chat.
Bring a better question to the table.
Free on iPhone and Android. 420 cards free, no account, works offline.