什么
Definitions
- 1. what?
- 2. something
- 3. anything
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Word relationships
Register variants
1 itemRelated words
3 itemsSynonyms
2 itemsUsage notes
Collocations
什么 commonly follows 做 (zuò, to do) as in 做什么 (zuò shénme, do what).
Common mistakes
什么 is never used as a relative pronoun like 'what' in English (e.g., 'I know what you did'). Use 的 (de) structure instead.
Grammar
Guides that feature 什么
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Use verb + 什么（就）是什么 to accept whatever comes without choosing: 你点什么就是什么, 他说什么就是什么.
Use 吵什么吵 and 什么钱不钱的 to tell someone to stop fussing, or to wave away money and thanks between friends.
Use 谢什么啊 and 急什么 to wave away thanks, worries or a claim you disagree with.
The subject comes first and the object comes right after the verb; a noun, a pronoun or a noun phrase can fill either slot, and only word order shows who does what.
Use 什么A的B的 in casual speech to list a few loose examples, like 什么画画的、跳舞的, meaning “things like painting, dancing and so on.”
End a list of examples with 什么的 to say “and so on” in everyday speech.
Say there’s no reason to worry, cry or argue with 没什么好担心的, and ask “what’s there to fear?” with 有什么好怕的.
Ask who, what, where, how, and how much without adding extra question machinery.
Use 谁, 什么, 哪儿 and 怎么 to mean “anyone”, “anything”, “whatever” or “something” in statements, not questions.
Use question words to make strong statements, like 谁不想去？ “Who wouldn’t want to go?” and 我哪儿知道？ “How would I know?”
Use question words in statements: 谁都知道 for “everyone knows”, 想吃什么就吃什么 for “whatever you like”, and 吃点儿什么 for “something”.
Example Sentences
5 shown你 什么 时候回来？
这两种方法有 什么 差别？
这不算 什么 。
你有 什么 好主意？
你听见 什么 声音了吗？
AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.
Words Containing 什么
what kind?; what sort?
what are you doing?
nothing
why?
what?
who?
somewhere
sth pertinent to say
when?
and so on
What brings you here? (idiom)
lit. whatever mountain one is on, one should sing its songs (idiom)
(spoken) why?
it takes all sorts (to make a world) (idiom)
it is nothing
nothing is impossible
what has (he) got up (his) sleeve?
What decade are you living in?