pron.
what
什么
Common Usage & Traps
- 叫什么名字 — what name are you called
- 什么书 — what book
- 什么菜 — what dish
- 这是什么 — what is this
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什么是这这是什么English moves 'what' to the front, but Chinese keeps 什么 after 是 when asking what an object is. 什么是幸福 is fine for definitions, but 什么是这 is not how you ask about this thing.
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你叫怎么名字你叫什么名字A name is a label, so Chinese uses 什么. 怎么 asks how, not what label someone has.
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什么名字你叫你叫什么名字什么 does not jump to the front like English 'what'. It stays where the answer would go.
Why is it 这是什么 and 你叫什么名字, not 什么是这 or 什么名字你叫?
什么 stays in the answer's slot, not at the front like English 'what'.
In English, 'what' usually moves to the front: What is this? What are you called? Chinese keeps 什么 in the slot where the answer would sit. If the answer is 这是书, the question is 这是什么. If the answer is 我叫张三, the question is 你叫什么. When 什么 goes with a noun, it comes before that noun: 什么书, 什么名字. When 什么 is the unknown thing by itself, it comes after the verb: 要什么, 叫什么. That is why 什么是这 sounds like a definition question, not 'What is this?'
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking what an object is | 这是什么？ | 什么是这？ |
| Asking a name | 你叫什么名字？ | 什么名字你叫？ |
| Unknown noun | 你看什么书？ | 你看书什么？ |
| Unknown thing | 你要什么？ | 什么你要？ |
When do you use 什么 instead of 哪个?
什么 asks for an open answer; 哪个 picks from a known set.
Use 什么 when you have no list in mind. Use 哪个 when the options are already visible or known. If you point at two shirts and ask 你要什么？, it sounds too open, like you forgot what shopping is. 你要哪个？ fits the two shirts. If there is no menu and you ask 你想吃哪个？, the listener wonders which hidden list you mean. 你想吃什么？ is open. The same logic applies to people: 谁 is open, but 哪个 is limited to a group.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Open choice | 你想吃什么？ | 你想吃哪个？ (no list) |
| Known options | 这两件，你要哪个？ | 这两件，你要什么？ |
| Asking a definition | 什么是幸福？ | 哪个是幸福？ |
| Open person | 谁是你老师？ | 哪个是你老师？ (no group) |
Why is it 你叫什么名字, not 你叫怎么名字?
Names use 什么 because a name is a label; 怎么 asks how, not what.
Chinese treats a name as the thing you are called, so the question word is 什么. 你叫什么名字？ literally asks what name you are called. 怎么 asks about manner or process. 这个字怎么读？ works because reading has a method. 你怎么来？ works because coming has a way. But 你叫怎么名字？ sounds like you are asking about the naming ceremony. For polite address, 怎么称呼您？ is a fixed phrase, not the normal name question. “新朋友，叫什么？” (A new friend, what's their name?) ── [《问问题》](/read/asking-questions-daily-life#s12)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking name | 你叫什么名字？ | 你叫怎么名字？ |
| Asking pronunciation | 这个字怎么读？ | 这个字什么读？ |
| Polite address | 怎么称呼您？ | 什么称呼您？ |
| Asking method | 你怎么去？ | 你什么去？ |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
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.
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你正在做 什么 ？”
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.
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大中想：“老先生天天来，茶不热了也不喝，他天天在看 什么 呢？”
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大中问：“老先生，您天天坐在这儿看外边，您在看 什么 呢？”
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.
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宝宝，宝宝，我问你，爸爸的爸爸叫 什么 ？
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爸爸的妈妈叫 什么 ？
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.
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新朋友，叫 什么 ？
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做 什么 ？
Questions & Discussion 0 questions
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