谁？
shéi?
Who?
How to ask "What is this?" in Chinese
这是什么？
zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
Grammar and structure
This is a question: 这 (zhè) means 'this', 是 (shì) means 'is', 什么 (shénme) means 'what'.
When to use it
Use this when you see something unfamiliar and want to know what it is. It's a basic, neutral question. Don't use it for people; use 'who' instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “What is this?” in Chinese?
“What is this?” in Chinese is 这是什么？ (zhè shì shénme?).
How do you pronounce 这是什么？?
这是什么？ is pronounced zhè shì shénme?.
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