Challenging an adjective with "shenme"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-shenme.jpg

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

  • 急 什么 急,还 早着 呢。jí shénme jí, hái zǎo zhe ne.Why are you so anxious? It's still so early.
  • 哭 什么 哭,又 不 是 没有 你 的 礼物。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.
  • 笑 什么 笑,看 我 做错 了,你 很 开心 吗?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?
  • 说 什么 说,大家 都 不 说话 ,就 你 说话 。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.
  • 看 什么 看,没 见 过 美女 啊?kàn shénme kàn, méi jiàn guo měinǚ a?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。Jǐnzhāng shénme a, nǐ bù shì shàng guo hǎojǐ cì wǔtái le ma? Yīnggāi zǎo jiù xíguàn le ba.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。Dānxīn shénme a, kěndìng kěyǐ mǎi dào piào de.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。Nánguò shénme a, yǐhòu hái huì zài jiàn de.What are you sad about? We'll meet again for sure.
  • 哭 什么 啊,明天 我 就 带 你 去 买。Kū shénme a, míngtiān wǒ jiù dài nǐ qù mǎi.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!Yùmèn shénme ya, kàn-kan zhè lánlán de tiānkōng, lǜlǜ de tiányuán, shēnghuó duō měihǎo a!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.

  • 忙 什么 忙 ?Nǐ máng shénme máng?What are you busy with?
  • 紧张 什么 紧张jǐnzhāng shénme jǐnzhāng?
  • 紧张 什么jǐnzhāng shénme? What are you nervous about?

See also

Sources and Further Reading

HSK5