我
wǒ
I, me
How to say “something” in Chinese with 什么
Question word in the position of an indefinite Obj. / Place / Time
什么 (shí mó) — something/somewhere/sometime
HSK 3Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns
Question word in the position of an indefinite Obj. / Place / Time
HSK 3Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns什么 (shí mó) — something/somewhere/sometime
Rule structure
Question words such as 谁 (shéi), 什么 (shénme), 哪儿 (nǎ ér) (nǎr), and 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) can be used not as questions, but as indefinite words meaning "someone," "something," "somewhere," or "sometime." The meaning is determined by sentence context.
Rule structure
Question words such as 谁 (shéi), 什么 (shénme), 哪儿 (nǎ ér) (nǎr), and 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) can be used not as questions, but as indefinite words meaning "someone," "something," "somewhere," or "sometime." The meaning is determined by sentence context.
Examples
我饿了，想吃点什么。
Wǒ è le, xiǎng chī diǎn shénme.
I'm hungry, I want to eat something.
他想吃点什么。
Tā xiǎng chī diǎn shímó.
He wants to eat something.
谁在门外等你。
Shéi zài ménwài děng nǐ.
Someone is waiting for you outside the door.
Examples
我饿了，想吃点什么。
Wǒ è le, xiǎng chī diǎn shénme.
I'm hungry, I want to eat something.
他想吃点什么。
Tā xiǎng chī diǎn shímó.
He wants to eat something.
谁在门外等你。
Shéi zài ménwài děng nǐ.
Someone is waiting for you outside the door.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “something/somewhere/sometime” in Chinese with 什么?
Use the structure: Question word in the position of an indefinite object / place / time. For example: 我饿了，想吃点什么。 — “I'm hungry, I want to eat something”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我饿了，想吃点什么。 — “I'm hungry, I want to eat something”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
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More HSK 3 grammar rules
想 — as one likes
想 (xiǎng) + Verb Phrase with Question Word + 就 (jiù) + Same Verb Phrase
为了 — purpose, “for the sake of”
为了 (wèile) + Purpose + Verb
都 — every with question words
Question Word + 都 (dōu) + Verb/Adj.
越来越 — more and more
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) + Adj.
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
如果…就 — if… then…
如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……
万 — big numbers
Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)
地 — turning adjectives into adverbs
Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb