什么的 for “And So On” | HSK 2 Chinese Grammar Guide

Pattern

item 1、item 2 + 什么的

Put 什么的 after one or more examples to say “and so on” or “and things like that” in casual speech.

我买了苹果、香蕉什么的。

When to use 什么的 for “And So On”

什么的 goes at the end of a list of examples to show the list is not complete. It can follow one example or several, and the examples can be things or activities.

桌子上有书、本子什么的。

There are books, notebooks and things like that on the table.

周末我喜欢看电影、听音乐什么的。

On weekends I like watching movies, listening to music and so on.

他喜欢运动，跑步、游泳什么的都喜欢。

He likes sports: running, swimming, all that kind of thing.

晚饭我们吃了饺子、米饭什么的。

For dinner we had dumplings, rice and so on.

Common traps

什么的 comes after the examples, never before them.
Don’t use 什么的 and 等 together; pick one.
Without 的, 什么 usually asks “what”; it does not mean “and so on.”

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

周末我喜欢看电影、听音乐。

On weekends I like watching movies, listening to music and so on

shén me de

Meanings

and so on; and things like that

Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

When to use 什么的 for “And So On”

Common traps

Targeted drill

Keep this pattern in review.