什么/什麼 shénme — what

Meanings

1. 1

   what

   The question word for things. It stays in the slot the answer would fill, so the word order of a question matches the word order of its answer.

   pronoun
2. 2

   what kind of, which (before a noun)

   pronoun

Example sentences

• 你叫什么名字？/你叫什麼名字？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) jiào (fourth tone, falling) shénme (second tone, rising) míngzi? (second tone, rising)···

  What’s your name?

• 你想吃什么？/你想吃什麼？Nǐ (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) chī (first tone, high and level) shénme? (second tone, rising)···

  What would you like to eat?

Common mistakes

• Not quite什么是你的名字？

  Correct你叫什么名字？

  Chinese question words are not moved to the front. Ask in the order of the answer: 我叫小明 → 你叫什么名字.

Similar words