HSK Guide

什么什麼 shénme — what

shénme (second tone, rising)shen2me5

Traditional: 什麼

what

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardpronoun
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Meanings

  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. 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.

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