How to Say “What” in Chinese

Ways to say it

The various forms of "what" in Chinese function primarily as interrogative pronouns to ask for information. However, 啥 can also be used as an interjection to express surprise or disbelief, much like saying "What?!" in English. In some contexts, specific phrases like 什么东西 are used to emphasize the object being discussed, translating to "what thing."

What does it mean word for word?

In the Hokkien form 啥物, the word is a compound where siáⁿ means "what" and mih means "thing" or "object."

Which one should you use?

The forms vary significantly by register and dialect. 什麼 / 什么 is the standard, neutral way to say "what" in Mandarin. 啥 is a much more colloquial and informal version, especially popular in northern Chinese dialects. For a highly formal or literary tone, 何 is used, though it is rarely heard in daily spoken conversation. In Hokkien, you may encounter the short form 啥, the compound 啥物 or the term 啥貨 / 啥货.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For standard daily communication, 什麼 / 什么 is the appropriate neutral choice. Use 啥 in casual, informal settings or when speaking northern Chinese dialects. For very formal writing or literary contexts, use 何.

Is it said differently in some regions?

The term 物代 is a specific variation used in the Kinmen dialect of Hokkien. Additionally, 啥 is a common colloquialism in northern China and са is a Dungan form.

Related words

Expression of surprise (intj): 什麼 / 什么, 啥？

Interrogative (det): 什麼 / 什么, 啥.

How does it change in a sentence?

In addition to its role as a pronoun, 啥 can function as an interrogative determiner. To ask "what is going on" or "why something happened," one might use the informal expression 咋回事.

How do you pronounce it?

The Hokkien form 啥 is pronounced /ʂä³⁵/ (siáⁿ, sáⁿ, siahⁿ, sahⁿ).