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.
• 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？
Nǐ jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng? What are you nervous about?

See also

• Challenging a Verb with ''shenme'"

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5