什么意思？
shénme yìsi?
The English phrase "what does it mean" is expressed in Chinese as 什么意思？ (shénme yìsi?)
Depending on tone and context, this phrase can be used to ask for a definition or to challenge someone's underlying intention or attitude, such as asking "What do you mean (by that)?" or "What's your intention?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 什么 (what) and 意思 (meaning).
How do you pronounce it?
shénme yìsi?
Did you know?
- The word 意思 can also refer to a 'small token of appreciation' or a 'gift' given to show gratitude, making the phrase 'what does it mean' contextually related to social etiquette and favors.
- In certain contexts, saying 有意思 (yǒu yìsi), which literally means 'to have meaning', is actually a common way to say that something is interesting or fun.
- Adding a 'particle' like 呢 to the end to make 什么意思呢？ can soften the tone. This turns a potentially aggressive challenge into a curious or gentle inquiry.
Examples in context
- 这是什么意思？What does it mean?Tatoeba #469553 by fucongcong, translation #43211 by CK
- 这是啥意思？What does this mean?
- 那啥意思？What does that mean?
- 这是什么鬼？What the heck does this mean?
- 这个字什么意思？zhège zì shénme yìsi?What does this character mean?
- 你的话是什么意思？nǐ de huà shì shénme yìsi?What do you mean by your words?
Example conversation
Yuting and Junjie are studying a book together.
- 雨婷 Yuting这个词是什么意思？Zhège cí shì shénme yìsi?What does this word mean?
- 俊杰 Junjie它的意思是“快乐”。Tā de yìsi shì “kuàilè”.It means "happy".
- 雨婷 Yuting原来如此，谢谢俊杰。Yuánlái rúcǐ, xièxiè Jùnjié.I see, thanks Junjie.
- 俊杰 Junjie没关系，雨婷。Méiguānxì, Yǔtíng.No problem, Yuting.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
