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Video Dictionary for Language Learners

How to say "what" in Chinese

1
什么 shén me
(question word) what While the question word 什么 (shén me) does literally mean 'what,' it's important to note that in Chinese, the question word typically comes at the end of the sentence, so, rather than saying 'What is that?', in Chinese the structure is 'That is 什么 (shénme)?'. The exception is when you want to specify 'what (kind/type) of thing,' and the structure becomes: "That is 什么 (shénme) thing?"
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这是 zhè shì 什么 shén me ？
What is this?
你 nǐ 要 yào 吃 chī 什么 shén me ？
What do you want to eat?
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
A Christmas Tree Time Machine
你 nǐ 有 yǒu 什么 shén me 愿望 yuàn wàng … / 你 nǐ 的 de 愿望 yuàn wàng 是 shì 什么 shén me ？
Whatever wish you may have... / What's your wish?
On Possessing Happiness - The Queen of SOP
出 chū 社会 shè huì 之后 zhī hòu ， 我 wǒ 都 dōu 快要 kuài yào 忘记 wàng jì 了 le 谈恋爱 tán liàn ài 是 shì 什么 shén me 感觉 gǎn jué 了 le 。
After appearing in society, I've already almost forgotten what it feels like to be romantically involved.
Textbooks and Homework
嘿 hēi ， 你 nǐ 在 zài 看 kàn 什么 shén me 书 shū ？
Hey, what book are you reading?
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2
怎么 zěn me
(adv.) how; how come; why; what
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你 nǐ 怎么 zěn me 知道 zhī dào ？
How did you know?
你 nǐ 怎么 zěn me 这么 zhè me 聪明 cōng míng ？
Why are you so smart？
你们 nǐ men 是 shì 怎么 zěn me 学 xué 中文 zhōng wén 的 de ？
How do you study Chinese?
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
Snakes, Misunderstanding, and Suspicion - Chengyu
怎么 zěn me 还 hái 没 méi 喝 hē ， 快 kuài 干 gān 啊 a ！ / 好 hǎo ！
Why aren't you drinking? Hurry up and drink! / All right!
What Life Will You Choose?
妈 mā ， 失火 shī huǒ 啦 la ！ / 怎么 zěn me 啦 la ？ 怎么 zěn me 啦 la ？
Mom, it's on fire! / What? What's happened?
Five Things That Won't Happen at Our Wedding
那 nà 你 nǐ 怎么 zěn me 不 bù 放 fàng 你 nǐ 长 cháng 头发 tóu fa 的 de 照片 zhào piàn ？
Then why don't you show the photographs of you when you had long hair?
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3
呢 ne
(part.) creates a suggestion or question; what about; how about Used to add a further querying element to questions.
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These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
我 wǒ 很好 hěn hǎo ， 你 nǐ 呢 ne ？
I‘m very well. How about you？
你 nǐ 姐姐 jiě jie 有 yǒu 工作 gōng zuò ， 弟弟 dì di 呢 ne ？
Your older sister has a job. What about your younger brother?
你 nǐ 是不是 shì bú shì 很 hěn 担心 dān xīn 自己的 zì jǐ de 表现 biǎo xiàn 不好 bù hǎo 呢 ne ？
Are you worried your performance wasn't good?
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
A Canine Guest
怎么办 zěn me bàn 呢 ne ? 流浪 liú làng 狗 gǒu 在 zài 想 xiǎng
"What to do?" the stray dog was thinking.
Of Love and Rain - Part 2
你 nǐ 怎么 zěn me 会 huì 有 yǒu 我的 wǒ de 电话 diàn huà 号码 hào mǎ 呢 ne ？
How do you have my telephone number?
To My Best Friend - Part 1
我们 wǒ men 问 wèn 她 tā ， 那 nà 想 xiǎng 给 gěi 晓瞳 xiǎo tóng 什么 shén me 惊喜 jīng xǐ 呢 ne ？
We asked her, so what surprise would you like to give her?
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4
什么 shén me
(pronoun) something; what Indicates something uncertain. Often used with 点(儿).
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Clickable Example Sentences

These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
有 yǒu 什么 shén me 事 shì 吗 ma ？
Is something the matter?
我 wǒ 想 xiǎng 吃 chī 点儿 diǎnr 什么 shén me 。
I want a little something to eat.
外面 wài miàn 好像 hǎo xiàng 有 yǒu 什么 shén me 声音 shēng yīn 。
There seems to be some noise outside.
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Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
"Firewood" - Wang Lihong
有 yǒu 了 le 你 nǐ 什么 shén me 都 dōu 不差 bù chā
With you, I lack nothing.
"Firewood" - Wang Lihong
有 yǒu 了 le 你 nǐ 什么 shén me 都 dōu 不差 bù chā
With you, I lack nothing.
"Because You're a Woman" - Kenji Wu
不 bù 为了 wèi le 什么 shén me ， 因为 yīn wèi 你 nǐ 是 shì 女人 nǚ rén 。
Not for anything. Just since you're a woman.
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5
还 hái
(adv.) emphatic; introduces a situation contrary to what is known or expected
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These examples and translations are created specifically for language learners, and are manually reviewed. Click on words to look them up.
你 nǐ 还 hái 真 zhēn 会 huì 说话 shuō huà 啊 a ！
You really know how to talk!
其实 qí shí 这 zhè 本 běn 书 shū 还 hái 不错 bú cuò 。
Actually, this book is not bad.
我 wǒ 发现 fā xiàn 你 nǐ 长得 zhǎng de 还 hái 挺 tǐng 像 xiàng 你 nǐ 姐姐 jiě jie 的 de 。
I find that you look quite like your sister.
Quiz Yourself on " 还"

Video Examples

Video examples are manually reviewed for accuracy.
“Wanna Go Home” - Anthony Neely
想要 xiǎng yào 飞 fēi 却 què 不能 bù néng 飞 fēi ， 我 wǒ 还 hái 以为 yǐ wéi 早 zǎo 去 qù 早 zǎo 回 huí 。
I want to fly, but I can't fly. I thought I'd go early and come back early.
Mantou's Diary: Episode 9 - New Year
哇 wa ， 馒头 mán tóu 还 hái 没有 méi yǒu 吃 chī 过 guò 饺子 jiǎo zi 呢 ne ！
Wow! Mantou hasn't had dumplings before!
Caught in the Web - Trailer
屁大点儿 pì dà diǎn er 事儿 shìr ， 还 hái 成 chéng 新闻 xīn wén 了 le 。
Something so small, yet it actually made the news.
Quiz Yourself on " 还"

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