Questions · Personal questions

Personal questions, without getting too personal

Personal isn’t the same as private. These ask about someone’s habits, comfort zones and hopes, never about money, health or exes, and they’re sorted so you can go one step closer at a time.

  • 16 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
  • Free in the app
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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.

Just for fun№ 49

Name a small thing people close to you know you always do.

Sabihin yung small thing na alam ng close sa'yo na lagi mong ginagawa.

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A note

Being known often lives in tiny details. The little things people remember can feel surprisingly sweet.

Minsan nasa tiny details yung feeling na kilala ka. Sweet din kapag naaalala ng tao yung small things mo.

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The questions

16 personal questions, in three levels

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.

Level one: personal, but easy

5 questions

For someone you’ve met a few times. Fun to answer.

  1. Name a small thing people close to you know you always do.

    Sabihin yung small thing na alam ng close sa'yo na lagi mong ginagawa.

    Back of the card

    Being known often lives in tiny details. The little things people remember can feel surprisingly sweet.

    Minsan nasa tiny details yung feeling na kilala ka. Sweet din kapag naaalala ng tao yung small things mo.

  2. What are you good at that your friends rarely get to see?

    Saan ka magaling na bihirang makita ng friends mo?

    Back of the card

    Imagine a friend seeing you do it for the first time.

    Isipin na unang nakita ng friend kung paano mo ito ginagawa.

  3. What playful side of you comes out around close friends?

    Anong makulit na side mo ang lumalabas kapag kasama ang close friends?

    Back of the card

    You do not have to perform it here. A description is enough.

    Hindi kailangang gawin iyon dito. Sapat nang ikuwento.

  4. On a free day, what activity do you enjoy even if nothing gets done?

    Sa free day, anong activity ang enjoy gawin kahit wala kang natatapos?

    Back of the card

    Not every good thing needs to be useful. Some activities are good because they give the day room to breathe.

    Hindi lahat ng magandang gawin kailangang useful. May mga bagay na okay dahil binibigyan lang nila ng luwag yung araw.

  5. Name one small, specific thing you enjoy more than people expect.

    Magbanggit ng isang maliit at specific na bagay na mas enjoy mo kaysa ina-expect ng iba.

    Back of the card

    Specific joys can be tiny clues about a person. They do not need to make sense to everyone to be real.

    Yung specific joys, maliit na clue tungkol sa tao. Hindi kailangan gets ng lahat para maging real.

Level two: a little trust

5 questions

Where they feel at ease, and what they like about themselves.

  1. Where do you feel like you do not have to adjust yourself too much these days?

    Saan mo nararamdaman lately na hindi mo kailangang masyadong i-adjust sarili mo?

    Back of the card

    The places where you feel like yourself can teach you what helps you breathe, belong, and come back to center.

    Yung mga lugar na parang ikaw ka talaga, may tinuturo. Baka doon ka mas nakakahinga, nakakagaan, o nakakabalik sa sarili.

  2. Where do you feel like you can finally breathe a little?

    Saan mo nararamdaman na parang nakakahinga ka na ulit?

    Back of the card

    The place does not have to be special to anyone else. If your body softens there, it counts.

    Hindi kailangang special sa ibang tao yung lugar. Kung doon ka lumuluwag, counted yun.

  3. What do you like more about yourself than you used to?

    Ano ang mas nagugustuhan mo sa sarili mo kaysa dati?

    Back of the card

    Would you appreciate the same thing in another person? Your story can stay private.

    Magugustuhan mo rin ba iyon sa ibang tao? Puwedeng itago ang sarili mong kuwento.

  4. Which part of yourself are you learning to accept?

    Anong part ng sarili mo ang natututuhan mong tanggapin?

    Back of the card

    Acceptance can be slow and ordinary. Sometimes it begins when you stop arguing with one true part of yourself.

    Mabagal at ordinary minsan ang acceptance. Minsan nagsisimula siya kapag hindi mo na inaaway ang isang totoong part mo.

  5. What kind of rest, fun, or treat are you learning to enjoy without feeling bad about it?

    Anong klaseng pahinga, saya, o treat ang natututuhan mong i-enjoy nang hindi masyadong nagi-guilty?

    Back of the card

    Enjoyment can take practice, especially when you are used to earning every pause. This question leaves room for that.

    Minsan kailangan ding matutuhan ang mag-enjoy, lalo na kung sanay kang kailangan mong paghirapan ang bawat pahinga. May space dito para doon.

Level three: close friends only

6 questions

Hopes, pride and what weighs on them. Ask when you have time to listen.

  1. Name something you are carrying this week that people may not notice.

    Magsabi ng isang bitbit mo this week na baka hindi napapansin ng iba.

    Back of the card

    Not every weight is visible. Being honest about what you carry can make the load feel less unnamed.

    Hindi lahat ng bigat nakikita. Kapag honest ka sa bitbit mo, kahit hindi agad gumaan, hindi na siya sobrang labo.

  2. When and where do you feel safe enough to be yourself?

    Kailan at saan mo nararamdaman na safe kang maging ikaw?

    Back of the card

    A place like that matters. It lets people meet the version of you that is not busy performing.

    Mahalaga ang ganung lugar. Doon nakikilala ng tao yung ikaw na hindi abala sa pagpapanggap.

  3. Name one hope you are protecting because it matters to you.

    Magsabi ng isang hope na iniingatan mo kasi mahalaga talaga sa'yo.

    Back of the card

    We often protect the hopes that feel tender. You can hold it carefully without pretending it does not matter.

    Madalas nating ingatan ang hopes na tender. Puwede mo siyang hawakan nang maingat nang hindi nagkukunwaring hindi siya mahalaga.

  4. What difficult situation are you proud of handling?

    Anong mahirap na sitwasyon ang proud kang naharap mo?

    Back of the card

    You can pass or keep the situation private. What did handling it help you notice about your own abilities?

    Puwedeng mag-pass o itago ang sitwasyon. Ano ang napansin mong kaya mo pala matapos mong harapin iyon?

  5. Name one truth about yourself that is becoming harder to ignore.

    Magsabi ng isang truth tungkol sa sarili mo na mas mahirap nang i-ignore.

    Back of the card

    A truth that keeps returning may not be trying to shame you. It may be asking for honest attention.

    Yung truth na paulit-ulit bumabalik, baka hindi ka pinapahiya. Baka humihingi lang siya ng honest na pansin.

  6. Name one good thing you are quietly hoping for.

    Magsabi ng isang good thing na tahimik mong hinihiling lately.

    Back of the card

    Quiet hopes still deserve room. Saying them gently can remind you that wanting good things is not foolish.

    May lugar din ang tahimik na hopes. Kapag nasabi mo sila nang gentle, naaalala mong hindi foolish ang umasa sa mabuti.

How to use them

Before you ask

A personal question asks about the person rather than their résumé: how they spend a free day, where they feel they can breathe, what they’re quietly hoping for. Done well, it’s how acquaintances become friends. Done too fast, it feels like an intrusion. The difference is mostly timing.

That’s why this page is in levels. Level one is safe with anyone you’ve met a few times: small habits, hidden talents, the side of them that comes out with friends. Level two needs a little trust. Level three is for someone close, at a moment when you have time to really listen.

Two rules keep personal questions kind. Answer each one yourself, at the same level, so it’s a trade and not an interview. And let a short answer be the answer. If someone stays at level one, they’re telling you something too.

Good for

  • Friends you want to know better
  • The third or fourth hangout
  • Couples in the early months
  • Roommates becoming friends
  • Long drives with someone you like

Tips

  1. Move up one level at a time, and only if the answers are getting longer.
  2. Answer every question yourself at the same depth.
  3. Avoid money, health, exes and family conflict unless they bring it up.
  4. Ask level three questions in private, never in a group.
  5. Thank people for an honest answer. It makes the next one easier.

Decks for this

Personal questions

Frequently asked questions

What are good personal questions to ask?

Questions about someone’s habits, comfort zones and hopes, like where they feel they can finally breathe or what they’re learning to accept about themselves. They’re personal without being private.

How personal is too personal?

Questions about money, health, past relationships or family conflict are too personal unless the other person brings them up. A good test: would you be comfortable answering it yourself right now?

How do I ask personal questions without being awkward?

Start easy, share your own answer first, and move closer only when their answers get longer. Asking in private and at a relaxed moment also helps.

Bring a better question to the table.

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