Challenging an adjective with "shenme"

Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective can be used to form a rhetorical question. The speaker is implying that there's no good reason to be [adjective].

Structure

Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) (+ 啊 / 呀) ？

Note that in this pattern, adjectives and psychological verbs both work equally well. We haven't distinguished between the two in the examples below, but that shouldn't present any problems.

Examples

• 大 什么 大 啊，四 个 人 住在 一起，房间 太 小 了。
• 高 什么 啊，上海 还有 更 高的 大楼。
• 胖 什么 胖 啊，在 北方，这样的 人 很 常见。
• 累 什么 累 啊，你 一 个 星期 只 工作 四 天。
• 聪明 什么啊，比 我 聪明的 人 有 很多。
• 紧张 什么 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好几 次 舞台 了 吗？应该 早 就 习惯 了 吧。Jǐnzhāng shénme a, nǐ bù shì shàng guo hǎojǐ cì wǔtái le ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguàn le ba.What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.
• 担心 什么 啊，肯定 可以 买到 票 的。Dānxīn shénme a, kěndìng kěyǐ mǎi dào piào de.What are you worried about? We'll definitely be able to buy the tickets.
• 难过 什么 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。Nánguò shénme a, yǐhòu hái huì zài jiàn de.What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.
• 郁闷 什么 呀，看看 这 蓝蓝的 天空，绿绿的 田园，生活 多 美好 啊！Yùmèn shénme ya, kàn-kan zhè lánlán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!

If the adjective or psychological verb is repeated after the 什么 as in some of the examples above, it acts to give further emphasis. It almost has a tone of incredulity, a bit like "what on earth are you worried/anxious about?" Generally only single character adjectives can be used in this way.

• 你 忙 什么 忙 ？Nǐ máng shénme máng?What are you busy with?
• 你 紧张 什么 紧张 ？Nǐ jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng?
• 你 紧张 什么 ？Nǐ jǐnzhāng shénme? What are you nervous about?

See also

• Challenging a Verb with ''shenme'"

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5