Ending a non-exhaustive list with "shenme de"

什么的(shénme de) is an informal way to express "etc.," and is used to end a list of items when it is obvious to the listener what class of things the speaker is talking about. 什么的 can also be used after a single item if it is obvious enough what might follow.

Structure

Noun 1, Noun 2 (+ Noun 3) + 什么的

Examples

• 数学 、物理 、化学 什么的 ，我 都 不 感兴趣 。Shùxué, wùlǐ, huàxué shénme de, wǒ dōu bù gǎnxìngqù.Math, physics, chemistry, and so on. I'm not interested in any of them.
• 我 喜欢 实用 的 礼物 ，手表 、衣服 、书 什么的 。Wǒ xǐhuan shíyòng de lǐwù, shǒubiǎo, yīfu, shū shénme de.I like practical presents, watch, clothes, books and so on.
• 我们 见面 一般 就是 吃饭、聊天 什么的 。Wǒmen jiànmiàn yībān jiùshì chīfàn, liáotiān shénme de.When we meet, we just eat and talk, and so on.
• 明天 去 野餐 ，我们 要 不 要 买 一些 水果 ，零食 什么的 。Míngtiān qù yěcān, wǒmen yào bu yào mǎi yīxiē shuǐguǒ, língshí shénme de.We are going on picnic tomorrow. Shall we buy some fruits, snacks, and so on.
• 跑步、游泳 、篮球 什么的 ，这些 运动 他 都 喜欢 。Pǎobù, yóuyǒng, lánqiú shénme de, zhèxiē yùndòng tā dōu xǐhuan.Running, swimming, basketball, and so on. He likes all these sports.
• 一个人 住 ，洗衣服 、做饭 什么的 都 要 自己 做 。Yīgèrén zhù, xǐ yīfu, zuòfàn shénme de dōu yào zìjǐ zuò.When you live alone, you need to do things all by yourself, doing laundry, cooking, and so on.
• 电视 、洗衣机 什么的 ，我 爸爸 都 会 修 。Diànshì, xǐyījī shénme de, wǒ bàba dōu huì xiū.Television, washing machine, and so on. My father can fix many things.

It can be a little impolite to use 什么的 after a list of peoples names, in which case 等 can be used in place of 什么的. When referring to a list of friends in informal contexts there is no problem using 什么的.

See also

• Listing Things with "a"
• Non-exhaustive lists with "dengdeng"
• "Stuff like that" with "zhileide"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp.304-7) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp.121) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 122-3) →buy