Chinese dictionary
- 1
pron.(used before a noun or by itself) what
这是什么？
What is this?
什么事情？
What's the matter?
你爸爸做什么工作？
What's your father's job?
什么颜色？
What colour?
synonym
- 2
(used to refer to anything indefinite) something; anything
他饿了，想吃点什么。
He's hungry. He wants to have something to eat.
好像出了什么事。
It seems something is amiss.
他什么都吃。
He likes eating all kinds of food.
你们仿佛在谈论什么。
It seems that you are talking about something.
synonym
- 3
(used before 也 or 都) any; every
你只要认真学，什么都能学会。
Only if you learn earnestly, you can learn everything.
时间比什么都珍贵。
Time is more precious than anything else.
她什么也没说。
She didn't say anything.
- 4
(used correlatively with another 什么) whatever
你想什么说什么。
You feel free to say what's on your mind.
她什么时候去，我也什么时候去。
Whenever she goes, I'll go.
冰箱里有什么，我们就吃什么。
We'll eat whatever we can find in the fridge.
什么样的钥匙开什么样的锁
suit the remedy to the problem
- 5
pron.(used to express anger, surprise, censure or negation)
什么！十点了，车还没有开！
What's happened! It's ten. The bus is not yet leaving!
这是什么鞋！一只大的一只小的！
What damned shoes! One is big and the other is smaller.
什么！没有水吗？
What! No water?
什么，她真是这个意思？
What, does she really mean it?
- 6
pron.(expressing disapproval or disagreement)
她笑什么？
What is she laughing at?
你说呀！装什么哑巴？
Speak up! Stop playing dumb.
什么晒两天？晒五天也晒不干。
two days? It won't be dried even in five days.
年轻什么呀，我都40多了。
Young indeed! I'm past 40 already.
- 7
pron.and so on; and what not; such as; things like
什么送个信啊，跑个腿啊，她都干得了。
She can do everything, such as sending a message and running errands.
什么乒乓球啊，羽毛球啊，篮球啊，我都会玩。
I can play table tennis, badminton, volleyball, anything.
什么猪肉啊，土豆啊，青菜啊，他都买了。
He bought pork, potatoes, green vegetables, anything.
Word usage
- Note"什么" cannot be written as "甚么".