什么
shénme
What? which?
什么 (shí mó) — rejecting a distinction
什么 (shénme) + X + 不 (bù) + X + （的 (de)）
HSK 53.0
Pattern diagram
什么Adjective不Adjective的，Clause
pale — also possible
Rule structure
The pattern 什么 (shí mó)X不 (bù)X（的 (de)） (shénme X bù X de) rejects the very choice of “X or not X” as unnecessary or out of place. The speaker implies: “Who cares whether it’s X or not X.” The final 的 (de) is optional and does not change the meaning.
Rule structure
The pattern 什么 (shí mó)X不 (bù)X（的 (de)） (shénme X bù X de) rejects the very choice of “X or not X” as unnecessary or out of place. The speaker implies: “Who cares whether it’s X or not X.” The final 的 (de) is optional and does not change the meaning.
Examples
什么好看不好看的，实用最重要。
Shénme hǎokàn bu hǎokàn de, shíyòng zuì zhòngyào.
Who cares whether it looks good or not — being practical is what matters most.
Examples
什么好看不好看的，实用最重要。
Shénme hǎokàn bu hǎokàn de, shíyòng zuì zhòngyào.
Who cares whether it looks good or not — being practical is what matters most.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “rejecting a distinction” in Chinese with 什么?
Use the structure: 什么 (shénme) + X + 不 (bù) + X + （的 (de)）. For example: 什么好看不好看的，实用最重要。 — “Who cares whether it looks good or not — being practical is what matters most”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
什么好看不好看的，实用最重要。 — “Who cares whether it looks good or not — being practical is what matters most”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 5.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 5 grammar rules
不得了 — oh no, an extreme situation
不得了 (bùdéliǎo)! (+ Situation)
着 — while doing, something happened
Verb (A) + 着 (zhe) + Verb (A) + 着 (zhe), ...
没 — paired absence with 没A没B
没 (méi) + A + 没 (méi) + B
说 — doing it at once: 说A就A
说 (shuō) + Verb (A) + 就 (jiù) + Verb (A)
用不着 — no need to
Subject + 用不着 (yòngbuzháo) + Verb/Noun
的 — different people doing different things
A + 的 (de) + A，B + 的 (de) + B
不 — might as well, no reason not to
不 (bù) + Verb + 白 (bái) + 不 (bù) + Verb
是它 — whether it's good or bad
X + 是 (shì) + 它 (tā)，Y + 也 (yě) + 是 (shì) + 它 (tā)