Difference between revisions of "Challenging an adjective with "shenme""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | + | Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective can be used to form a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_question| rhetorical question]. The speaker is implying that there's no good reason to be [adjective]. | |
| − | Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) | + | Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) (+ 啊 / 呀) ？ |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | Note that in this pattern, adjectives and [[psychological verb]]s both work equally well. We haven't distinguished between the two in the examples below, but that shouldn't present any problems. | |
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | *<em>大 什么 大</em> 啊 | |
| − | * | + | *<em>高 什么</em> 啊 |
| − | * | + | *<em>胖 什么 胖</em> 啊 |
| − | * | + | *<em>累 什么 累</em> 啊 |
| − | * | + | *<em>聪明 什么</em> 啊 |
| − | * | ||
*<em>紧张 什么</em> 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好几 次 舞台 了 吗？应该 早 就 习惯 了 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnzhāng shénme</em> a, nǐ bù shì shàng guo hǎojǐ cì wǔtái le ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguàn le ba.</span><span class="trans">What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.</span> | *<em>紧张 什么</em> 啊，你 不 是 上 过 好几 次 舞台 了 吗？应该 早 就 习惯 了 吧。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnzhāng shénme</em> a, nǐ bù shì shàng guo hǎojǐ cì wǔtái le ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguàn le ba.</span><span class="trans">What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.</span> | ||
*<em>担心 什么</em> 啊，肯定 可以 买到 票 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Dānxīn shénme</em> a, kěndìng kěyǐ mǎi dào piào de.</span><span class="trans">What are you worried about? We'll definitely be able to buy the tickets.</span> | *<em>担心 什么</em> 啊，肯定 可以 买到 票 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Dānxīn shénme</em> a, kěndìng kěyǐ mǎi dào piào de.</span><span class="trans">What are you worried about? We'll definitely be able to buy the tickets.</span> | ||
*<em>难过 什么</em> 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nánguò shénme</em> a, yǐhòu hái huì zài jiàn de.</span><span class="trans">What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.</span> | *<em>难过 什么</em> 啊，以后 还 会 再 见 的。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nánguò shénme</em> a, yǐhòu hái huì zài jiàn de.</span><span class="trans">What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.</span> | ||
| − | |||
*<em>郁闷 什么</em> 呀，看看 这 蓝蓝的 天空，绿绿的 田园，生活 多 美好 啊！<span class="pinyin"><em>Yùmèn shénme</em> ya, kàn-kan zhè lánlán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!</span><span class="trans">Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!</span> | *<em>郁闷 什么</em> 呀，看看 这 蓝蓝的 天空，绿绿的 田园，生活 多 美好 啊！<span class="pinyin"><em>Yùmèn shénme</em> ya, kàn-kan zhè lánlán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!</span><span class="trans">Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | If the adjective or 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. | + | 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. |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="o">你 <em>忙 什么 忙</em> | + | <li class="o">你 <em>忙 什么 忙</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ máng shénme máng?</span><span class="trans">What are you busy with?</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x">你 <em>紧张 什么 紧张</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng</em>? | + | <li class="x">你 <em>紧张 什么 紧张</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng</em>? |
| − | <li class="o">你 <em>紧张 什么</em> ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme</em>? | + | <li class="o">你 <em>紧张 什么</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jǐnzhāng shénme</em>? |
</span><span class="trans">What are you nervous about?</span></li> | </span><span class="trans">What are you nervous about?</span></li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Revision as of 10:25, 21 November 2020
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
- 高 什么 啊
- 胖 什么 胖 啊
- 累 什么 累 啊
- 聪明 什么 啊
- 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。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。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。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！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 ？What are you busy with?
- 你 紧张 什么 紧张 ？
- 你 紧张 什么 ？What are you nervous about?
