Difference between revisions of "Challenging a verb with "shenme""
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| − | Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This | + | Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This pattern is often used with [[separable verb]]s. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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Verb + 什么 + Obj. | Verb + 什么 + Obj. | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | + | *离 <em>什么</em> 婚 ！你们 结婚 才 三 个 月 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that getting divorced right after being married for three months is a ridiculous notion.</span> <span class="pinyin">Lí <em>shénme</em> hūn! nǐmen jiéhūn cái sān gè yuè. <span class ="expl"></span> | |
| − | *离 <em>什么</em> 婚 ！你们 | + | *道 <em>什么</em> 歉 啊 ，又 不 是 你 的 错 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.</span> <span class="pinyin">Dào <em>shénme</em> qiàn a, yòu bù shì nǐ de cuò. |
| − | *道 <em>什么</em> 歉 啊 ，又 不 是 你 的 错 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.</span> | + | *开 <em>什么</em> 玩笑 啊 ，你 撞 了 我 ，我 还要 跟 你 说 “对不起” ？<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that it's a joke that he was asked to apologize to the guy who hit him.</span><span class="pinyin">Kāi <em>shénme</em> wánxiào a, nǐ zhuàng le wǒ, wǒ ?? gēn nǐ shuō"duìbuqǐ"?</span> |
| − | *开 <em>什么</em> 玩笑 啊 ，你 撞 了 我 ，我 还要 跟 你 说 “对不起” ？<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that it's a joke that he was asked to apologize to the guy who hit him.</span> | + | *没有 钱 看 <em>什么</em> 电影 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no money to watch a movie.</span><span class="pinyin">Méiyǒu qián kàn <em>shénme</em> diànyǐng.</span> |
| − | *没有 钱 看 <em>什么</em> 电影 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no money to watch a movie.</span> | + | *还 吃 <em>什么</em> 早饭 啊 ，要 迟到 了 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no time for breakfast.</span><span class="pinyin">Hái chī <em>shénme</em> zǎofàn a, yào chídào le.</span> |
| − | *还 吃 <em>什么</em> 早饭 啊 ，要 迟到 了 。<span class="expl">The speaker is implying that there's no time for breakfast.</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:58, 21 November 2020
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Keywords
Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This pattern is often used with separable verbs.
Structure
The most common structure you will see is:
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.
- 道 什么 歉 啊 ，又 不 是 你 的 错 。The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.
- 开 什么 玩笑 啊 ，你 撞 了 我 ，我 还要 跟 你 说 “对不起” ？The speaker is implying that it's a joke that he was asked to apologize to the guy who hit him.
- 没有 钱 看 什么 电影 。The speaker is implying that there's no money to watch a movie.
- 还 吃 什么 早饭 啊 ，要 迟到 了 。The speaker is implying that there's no time for breakfast.
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.
