Challenging an adjective with "shenme"

Adding 什么(shénme) to the end of an adjective (or less frequently to a verb) can be used to form a rhetorical question. For example, in the phrase 你急什么？"what are you worried about?," the speaker is implying that there is no need to be worried.

Structure

Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) ？

Verb + 什么 (+ Verb) ？

Like in English, "what are you worried about" can be a rhetorical question, and can also be actually inquiring about what exactly the listener is worried about. The same is true in Chinese, so context and tone of voice is important in understanding what the speaker means.

Examples

• 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 bùshì shàngguò hǎojǐ cì wǔtáile ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguànle 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 can definitely buy the tickets.
• 难过 什么 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。Nánguò shénme a, yǐhòu hái huì zàijiàn de.Why are you sad? You'll see me later.
• 哭 什么 啊，明天 我 就 带 你 去 买。Kū shénme a, míngtiān wǒ jiù dài nǐ qù mǎi.What's there to cry about? Tomorrow I'll take you to buy it.
• 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 kàn zhè lán lán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!Why so sad? Look at the blue sky, the green fields, life is so beautiful!
• 你急 什么 急，还 早 着 呢。Nǐ jí shénme jí, hái zǎo zhene.Why are you so anxious? It's still early.
• 你哭 什么 哭，又 不 是 没有 你 的 礼物。Nǐ kū shénme kū, yòu bùshì méiyǒu nǐ de lǐwù.Why are you crying?, is it not your gift?
• 你笑 什么 笑，看 我 做错 了，你 很 开心 吗？Nǐ xiào shénme xiào, kàn wǒ zuò cuòle, nǐ hěn kāixīn ma?What are you laughing at? Does seeing me make mistakes make you happy?
• 你说 什么 说，大家都不说话，就你说话。Nǐ shuō shénme shuō, dàjiā dōu bù shuōhuà, jiù nǐ shuōhuà.Why are you talking? Everyone else isn't saying a word, it's just you talking.
• 你看 什么 看，没 见 过 美 女 啊？Nǐ kàn shénme kàn, méi jiànguò měinǚ a?What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a pretty girl before?

If the adjective or verb is repeated after the 什么 as in the 3rd and 4th example, 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？

See also

• Challenging a Verb with ''shenme'"

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5