请再说一遍
qǐng zài shuō yí biàn
Please say it again
How to say "What does this mean?" in Chinese
这是什么意思？
zhè shì shénme yìsi?
What does this mean?
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a question formed with 这 (zhè, this), 是 (shì, is), 什么 (shénme, what), and 意思 (yìsi, meaning). The structure is a straightforward subject-verb-object question.
Variations and politeness
这是什么意思呢？
zhè shì shénme yìsi ne?
What does this mean then? — Adds a nuance of curiosity.
这是什么？
zhè shì shénme?
What is this? — Shorter, without specifying meaning.
请问这是什么意思？
qǐng wèn zhè shì shénme yìsi?
Excuse me, what does this mean? — More polite version.
Mini dialogue
A
这个词我不懂。
zhège cí wǒ bù dǒng.
I don't understand this word.
B
这是什么意思？
zhè shì shénme yìsi?
What does this mean?
A
这是一个新词。
zhè shì yīgè xīn cí.
This is a new word.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When you hear or see a word, phrase, or gesture you don't understand.
- When you want to ask for clarification about the meaning of something said or written.
- In most everyday situations, as it is neutral in register.
Avoid when
- When you are asking about a visible object; instead point and ask "这是什么？" (What is this?).
- When you already know the meaning but want to ask about pronunciation or usage.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "What does this mean?" in Chinese?
You say "这是什么意思？" (zhè shì shénme yìsi?). It literally translates to "This is what meaning?"
How do you pronounce "这是什么意思？"?
It is pronounced zhè shì shénme yìsi? The tone marks are: zhè (4th tone), shì (4th tone), shén (2nd tone), me (neutral), yì (4th tone), si (neutral).
When do you use "这是什么意思？"?
Use it when you encounter something you don't understand, such as a word, phrase, or gesture. It is suitable for most situations, but for visible objects, use "这是什么？" instead.
More phrases for this situation
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