Challenging an adjective with "shenme"
Adding 什么 (shénme) after an adjective or verb can be used to form a rhetorical question. To use a very simple example, in the question 你看什么？("what are you looking at?") the speaker is implying that there is "nothing to see here."
Structure
Adj. + 什么 (+ Adj.) ？
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. The same is true in Chinese, so context and tone of voice are both important in understanding what the speaker means.
Examples
- 你 急 什么 急，还 早着 呢。Why are you so anxious? It's still so early.
- 你 哭 什么 哭，又 不 是 没有 你 的 礼物。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？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 。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？What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a pretty girl before?
- 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.
- 哭 什么 啊，明天 我 就 带 你 去 买。What are you crying 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！Why so glum? Look at that blue sky, those green fields. Life is so wonderful!
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.
- 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?
