Challenging a verb with "shenme"

Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question.

Verb + 什么 + Verb

Just like in English, asking "what are you looking at?" can be a rhetorical question (hinting that you should stop staring), but can also be a sincere inquiry about what exactly the other person is looking at. When you repeat the verb, though, you make it pretty clear that you're not just curious. You're so annoyed that you're asking a rhetorical question.

Structure

Verb + 什么 + Verb ？

Examples

• 你 急 什么 急，还 早着 呢。Nǐ jí shénme jí, hái zǎo zhe ne.Why are you so anxious? It's still so early.
• 你 哭 什么 哭，又 不 是 没有 你 的 礼物。Nǐ kū shénme kū, yòu bù shì méiyǒu nǐ de lǐwù.What are you crying for? It's not like there's no gift for you.
• 你 笑 什么 笑，看 我 做错 了，你 很 开心 吗？Nǐ xiào shénme xiào, kàn wǒ zuò cuò le, 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 jiàn guo měinǚ a?What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a pretty girl before?

Verb + 什么 + Object

This pattern is often used with separable verbs.

Structure

Verb + 什么 + Obj.

Examples

This usage is best illustrated with examples:

• 离 什么 婚 ！你们 结婚 才 三 个 月 。The speaker is implying that getting divorced right after being married for three months is a ridiculous notion.Lí shénme hūn! nǐmen jiéhūn cái sān gè yuè.What are you talking about, "divorce"?! You've only been married three months!
• 道 什么 歉 啊 ，又 不 是 你 的 错 。The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.Dào shénme qiàn a, yòu bù shì nǐ de cuò.No aplogies! You didn't do anything wrong.
• 开 什么 玩笑 啊 ，你 撞 了 我 ，我 还要 跟 你 说 “对不起” ？It's a joke to expect an apology.Kāi shénme wánxiào a, nǐ zhuàng le wǒ, wǒ háiyào gēn nǐ shuō "duìbuqǐ"?Is this some kind of joke? You ran into me, and now you want me to say sorry to you?
• 没有 钱 看 什么 电影 。There's no money to watch a movie!Méiyǒu qián kàn shénme diànyǐng.What movie can we go see when we're broke?
• 还 吃 什么 早饭 啊 ，要 迟到 了 。There's no time for breakfast!Hái chī shénme zǎofàn a, yào chídào le.No time for breakfast. We're going to be late!

Note that the questions above would likely be between friends, or at least two people who are quite familiar with each other. Tone of voice and context is key.

See also

• Challenging an Adjective with "shenme"

Sources and further reading

HSK5