什么 (shénme) — what
HSK 1 | pronoun | interrogative pronoun asking about things or identity
什么 (shénme)
The most versatile interrogative word in Chinese, used to ask "what" about anything: things, names, types, reasons, and more; it occupies the same sentence position as the noun it replaces.
Meanings
- [pronoun] What (asking about identity or type of a thing).
- [determiner] What kind of (before a noun: 什么 + noun).
- [pronoun] Anything, whatever (in a negative or open-ended context).
Example Sentences
你叫什么名字？ Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? What is your name?
这是什么？ Zhè shì shénme? What is this?
你想买什么东西？ Nǐ xiǎng mǎi shénme dōngxi? What things do you want to buy?
你在说什么？ Nǐ zài shuō shénme? What are you saying?
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) | when (what time) |
| 什么地方 (shénme dìfang) | where (what place) |
| 为什么 (wèishénme) | why (for what reason) |
| 什么样 (shénme yàng) | what kind/type |
| 没什么 (méi shénme) | nothing, never mind |
| 什么都 (shénme dōu) | everything, anything |
Memory Hook
什么 sounds like "shen-muh." Imagine asking a confused "hm?" and stretching it out: "what IS that shen-muh thing?" Every time you are confused and need to ask what something is, reach for 什么.