How common it is
什么 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Guest access
Guests can browse all words. Sign in or create an account to save progress and unlock more practice.
Pronunciation focus
Say shénme slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
什么是问东西或事情的词，意思是哪个、哪件事。
shén me shì wèn dōng xī huò shì qíng de cí， yì sī shì nǎ gè 、 nǎ jiàn shì。
什么 is a question word for asking about a thing or matter, like which thing or what happened.
Context note
什么常出现在提问、课堂和日常对话里。
shén me cháng chū xiàn zài tí wèn 、 kè táng hé rì cháng duì huà lǐ。
什么 often appears in questions, classwork, and everyday conversation.
5 examples
你要什么？
nǐ yào shén me？
What do you want?
这是什么？
zhè shì shén me？
What is this?
你在看什么？
nǐ zài kàn shén me？
What are you looking at?
老师说什么？
lǎo shī shuō shén me？
What did the teacher say?
你喜欢什么颜色？
nǐ xǐ huan shén me yán sè？
What color do you like?
5 mini stories
你想吃什么？我想吃苹果。
nǐ xiǎng chī shén me？ wǒ xiǎng chī píng guǒ。
What do you want to eat? I want to eat apples.
这是什么声音？原来是风吹门。
zhè shì shén me shēng yīn？ yuán lái shì fēng chuī mén。
What is that sound? It turns out to be the wind blowing the door.
老师问我们什么最有趣。大家都举手回答。
lǎo shī wèn wǒ men shén me zuì yǒu qù。 dà jiā dōu jǔ shǒu huí dá。
The teacher asked what was most interesting. Everyone raised their hands to answer.
你在写什么？我在写自己的名字。
nǐ zài xiě shén me？ wǒ zài xiě zì jǐ de míng zì。
What are you writing? I am writing my own name.
什么都可以告诉我。我们一起想办法。
shén me dōu kě yǐ gào sù wǒ。 wǒ men yì qǐ xiǎng bàn fǎ。
You can tell me anything. We can think of a solution together.