什么
shénme
What? which?
How to challenge a verb with 什么 (shénme)
Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval)
什么 (shí mó) — rhetorical disapproval
HSK 5Verbs
Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval)
HSK 5Verbs什么 (shí mó) — rhetorical disapproval
Rule structure
什么 (shénme) placed after a verb forms a rhetorical question expressing disapproval, impatience, or that the action is unnecessary.
Rule structure
什么 (shénme) placed after a verb forms a rhetorical question expressing disapproval, impatience, or that the action is unnecessary.
Examples
你急什么？
Nǐ jí shénme?
What are you rushing for?
Examples
你急什么？
Nǐ jí shénme?
What are you rushing for?
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “rhetorical disapproval” in Chinese with 什么?
Use the structure: Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval). For example: 你急什么？ — “What are you rushing for?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
你急什么？ — “What are you rushing for?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 5 grammar rules
算 — counting as, considering
Subj. + 算 (suàn) + (是 (shì)) + Noun / Adj.
难怪 — hard to blame
这 (zhè) / 也 (yě) + 难怪 (nánguài) + Person
化 — making -ize/-ify verbs
Noun / Adj. + 化 (huà) → Verb (to -ize/-ify)
像 — comparing with “like”
A + 像 (xiàng) + B + 一样 (yíyàng) / 这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme) + Adj.
显得 vs 看起来 — looks vs seems
Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)
比起 — compared with
比起 (bǐqǐ) + B + (来 (lái)), A + 更 (gèng) / 比较 (bǐjiào) + Adj.
不如 — not as… as
A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.)
看起来 vs 看来 — seem, look like
看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)