什么
shénme
What? which?
没什么 (méi shí mó) — not worth doing
没什么 (méi shénme) + Verb + 头儿 (tour) / 有什么 (yǒu shénme) + Verb + 头儿 (tour)
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
没什么有什么Action头儿
Rule structure
没什么 (méi shí mó)+verb+头儿 (tóu ér) says that an action is not worthwhile; 有什么 (yǒu shí mó)+verb+头儿 (tóu ér) is a rhetorical “what’s the point?”. For example, 没什么看头儿 (méi shí mó kàn tóu ér) (méi shénme kàntour) means “there’s not much worth seeing”. Here 头儿 (tóu ér) is a suffix expressing the interest or value of an action, pronounced with a neutral tone and erhua.
Rule structure
没什么 (méi shí mó)+verb+头儿 (tóu ér) says that an action is not worthwhile; 有什么 (yǒu shí mó)+verb+头儿 (tóu ér) is a rhetorical “what’s the point?”. For example, 没什么看头儿 (méi shí mó kàn tóu ér) (méi shénme kàntour) means “there’s not much worth seeing”. Here 头儿 (tóu ér) is a suffix expressing the interest or value of an action, pronounced with a neutral tone and erhua.
Examples
这个电影没什么看头儿，别去了。
Zhège diànyǐng méi shénme kàntour, bié qù le.
This movie isn't worth watching, don't go.
Examples
这个电影没什么看头儿，别去了。
Zhège diànyǐng méi shénme kàntour, bié qù le.
This movie isn't worth watching, don't go.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “not worth doing” in Chinese with 没什么?
Use the structure: 没什么 (méi shénme) + Verb + 头儿 (tour) / 有什么 (yǒu shénme) + Verb + 头儿 (tour). For example: 这个电影没什么看头儿，别去了。 — “This movie isn't worth watching, don't go”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
这个电影没什么看头儿，别去了。 — “This movie isn't worth watching, don't go”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
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More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
动不动 就 — at the slightest thing, just
Subj. + 动不动 (dòngbudòng) 就 (jiù) + Verb
仅次于 — second only to
Subj. + 仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) + X
个 — casual small action
Verb + 个 (ge) + Noun
除外 — except for, excluding
Noun + 除外 (chúwài)
不亚于 — no worse than
Subject + 不亚于 (bú yà yú) + Noun
可不 — enthusiastic agreement
可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply
说到哪儿去了 — polite reply to praise
说到哪儿去了 (shuō dào nǎr qù le) — a standalone polite reply
非 — neither A nor B
非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. A + 非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. B