什 shén

HSK 1 Writing L2

A squad of ten soldiers or a unit of ten households.

Part of 什么 (what); also assorted, mixed in compounds like 什锦. Ten (十) people (亻) grouped together, one asking “what?”.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 什么 (shén me) — what
  • 为什么 (wèi shén me) — why
  • 做什么 (zuò shén me) — do what
  • 什么时候 (shén me shí hou) — when
  • 什 什么

    什 is a bound character in modern Mandarin; it cannot stand alone to mean 'what'.

  • 什么吗 什么

    什么 already marks a question; adding 吗 is redundant and unnatural.

What is the difference between 什 and 十?

什 (shén) only appears in 什么 (what); 十 (shí) means 'ten'.

They look similar but are different characters. 什 has the person radical 亻 and is bound in 什么. 十 is a standalone number meaning ten. Do not mix them up in reading or typing.
Dimension什十
Meaningwhat (in 什么)ten
Pinyinshénshí
Usageonly in 什么standalone number
Example你做什么?十个人

Can 什 be used by itself to mean 'what'?

No. 什 must be followed by 么 to form 什么.

In modern Mandarin, 什 is a bound character and only appears in 什么. It cannot stand alone as a question word. Saying 这什? is not Chinese.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Form什么什
Example这是什么?这什?
Meaningwhatnonsense

Appears in Stories 14 stories

《你误会方便面了吗?》 Are Instant Noodles Misunderstood?
HSK 6 ~10 min read 1171 chars
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Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.

  • 为什么 中国消费者这么“害怕”吃方便面呢?

  • 这个数字是 什么 意思?

  • 就是说方便面里面基本没有水,所以就算在里面 什么 “东西”也不加,它也不会长毛变坏。

  • 误会二:方便面没有 什么 营养事实上,除了刚出生的小宝宝可以只吃一种食物获得全部营养以外,没有任何人可以从单一一种食物中获得全部的营养。

  • 在吃方便面时也可以再多加一些蔬菜、水果 什么的 ,让它营养更多。

  • 事实上,油炸方便面的含油量比中国人传统常吃的油条,以及现在年轻人喜欢的炸薯条、炸土豆片 什么的 低很多,只是它们的二分之一不到。

  • 这就是 为什么 方便面里都有一个小盐包。

《我的家人(1)》 My Family Members
HSK 1 ~2 min read 116 chars
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Before you read, meet the grandparents! This rhyming chant helps you practice the different names for maternal and paternal grandparents in Chinese. Listen to the beat and repeat.

  • 宝宝,宝宝,我问你,爸爸的爸爸叫 什么 ?

  • 爸爸的妈妈叫 什么 ?

  • 宝宝,宝宝,我再问你妈妈的爸爸叫 什么 ?

  • 妈妈的妈妈叫 什么 ?

《学做中国菜》 Learning to Cook Chinese Food with a Friend
HSK 1 ~2 min read 123 chars
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Join a beginner as they ask a Chinese friend to teach them how to cook. This simple HSK 1 dialogue shows that learning one dish at a time is the best way to start.

  • 小米问我,我想学做 什么 菜。

  • 小米说,我再问你一个问题,你现在会做 什么 菜呢?

  • 我说,我 什么 菜都不会做。

《问问题》 Asking Questions
HSK 1 ~2 min read 107 chars
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Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.

  • 新朋友,叫 什么 ?

  • 做 什么 ?

《吃的东西和喝的东西》 Buying Food and Drinks
HSK 1 ~4 min read 305 chars
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This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.

  • 你正在做 什么 ?”

  • 那些桌子、椅子 什么的 ,这个星期都便宜了,都不贵。”

《七号桌的客人》 The Guest at Table Seven
HSK 1 ~5 min read 396 chars
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This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.

  • 大中想:“老先生天天来,茶不热了也不喝,他天天在看 什么 呢?”

  • 大中问:“老先生,您天天坐在这儿看外边,您在看 什么 呢?”

《这还是茶馆儿吗?》 Teahouse or Cinema?
HSK 3 ~3 min read 325 chars
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Ever wondered where old Beijing's tea-drinking culture has gone? Follow a visitor discovering why locals now avoid famous tea houses—and practice expressing surprise and comparisons in Chinese along the way.

  • 老北京们去茶馆,就是因为想喝茶,也为了跟朋友说说话 什么的 。

  • 因为在那儿可以一边喝茶,一边看表演,看唱歌、跳舞 什么的 。

《成语0001:东山再起》 The Comeback: From Eastern Mountain to Success
HSK 7 ~5 min read 589 chars
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Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.

  • 这个成语人人都会用,但是“东山”是 什么 意思,好多人不知道。

《一家人》 A Family of Six: Little Bao and His Green-Eyed Kids
HSK 2 ~4 min read 256 chars
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This simple HSK 2 story introduces a warm family of six. Follow Little Bao and his British wife as they raise their two green-eyed children, each with their own personality.

  • 为什么 ?

《女朋友的苹果手机》 The Girlfriend's Apple Phone
HSK 3 ~3 min read 314 chars
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This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.

  • A:哈哈,给女朋友花钱,难过 什么 ?

《一二三 住医院》 Hospital Days, Pricey Plates
HSK 1 ~2 min read 107 chars
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Follow a traveler's unexpected hospital stay in China, where counting days and costs becomes practical learning. Practice numbers, dates, food prices, and simple descriptions of a doctor and room.

  • 什么都 要钱,还都不好吃。

《饥饿的深意》 The Hidden Meaning of Hunger
HSK 7 ~11 min read 1243 chars
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Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.

  • 对面做服装的老总接话说,那你还撑 什么 。

《慢还是快?》 Slow or Fast? A Language Learner's Debate
HSK 2 ~8 min read 593 chars
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Is four years to reach HSK 5 fast or slow? Follow a conversation between two learners as they compare study hours and share realistic strategies for busy adults.

  • A:你在学 什么 ?

《大学者和小人物》 The Scholar and the Cookie Seller
HSK 5 ~8 min read 882 chars
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Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.

  • 我只能说,你说的英国制度和美国制度其实没有 什么 不一样。

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