什么

shén me
HSK 1Pronoun (代)

Basic Meaning

pron
Used for enumeration
Used before several parallel elements to indicate an incomplete list.
用在几个并列成分前面，表示列举不尽。
Sentences:
  1. 超(chāo)市(shì)里(lǐ)什(shén)么(me)苹(píng)果(guǒ)、香(xiāng)蕉(jiāo)、橙(chéng)子(zi)都(dōu)有(yǒu)。
    The supermarket has apples, bananas, oranges, and so on.
  2. 他(tā)喜(xǐ)欢(huān)什(shén)么(me)电(diàn)影(yǐng)、音(yīn)乐(yuè)、游(yóu)戏(xì)都(dōu)玩(wán)。
    He likes movies, music, games, and so on.
pron
Negative connotation
Used to express blame or criticism.
表示责难。
Sentences:
  1. 你(nǐ)这(zhè)是(shì)什(shén)么(me)态(tài)度(dù)？
    What kind of attitude is this?
  2. 他(tā)这(zhè)是(shì)什(shén)么(me)意(yì)思(si)？
    What does he mean by this?
pron
Expressive usage
Used to express surprise or dissatisfaction.
表示惊讶或不满。
Sentences:
  1. 什(shén)么(me)！你(nǐ)考(kǎo)试(shì)没(méi)及(jí)格(gé)？
    What! You failed the exam?
  2. 什(shén)么(me)？这(zhè)杯(bēi)咖(kā)啡(fēi)要(yào)五(wǔ)十(shí)块(kuài)？
    What? This cup of coffee costs fifty yuan?
pron
Grammatical pattern usage
Used for arbitrary reference. a) Used before '也' or '都' to indicate no exceptions within the mentioned scope. b) Two '什么' used in correspondence, indicating the latter is determined by the former.
表示任指。a）用在“也”或“都”前面，表示所说的范围之内没有例外。b）两个“什么”前后照应，表示由前者决定后者。
Sentences:
  1. 我(wǒ)什(shén)么(me)也(yě)不(bù)想(xiǎng)吃(chī)。
    I don't want to eat anything.
  2. 他(tā)什(shén)么(me)都(dōu)会(huì)做(zuò)。
    He can do everything.
  3. 你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)吃(chī)什(shén)么(me)，我(wǒ)就(jiù)做(zuò)什(shén)么(me)。
    Whatever you want to eat, I'll make it.
pron
Interrogative pronoun
Used to ask questions. a) Used alone to ask about things. b) Used before nouns to ask about people or things.
表示疑问。 a）单用，问事物。 b）用在名词前面，问人或事物。
Words:
什么人什么地方什么事
Sentences:
  1. 这(zhè)是(shì)什(shén)么(me)？
    What is this?
  2. 你(nǐ)想(xiǎng)去(qù)什(shén)么(me)地(dì)方(fāng)？
    Where do you want to go?
  3. 你(nǐ)叫(jiào)什(shén)么(me)名(míng)字(zi)？
    What is your name?

Characters Breakdown

HSK 1
shí shén什

various

HSK 1
me么

suffix