什么是
shén me shì
The Chinese phrase for "what is" is 什么是 (shén me shì).
什么是 is a phrase used to ask for the definition or the identity of something.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 什么是 is used when the "what" serves as the predicate of the sentence, which is typical when asking for definitions. Note that Chinese word order for this question often follows a Subject + 是 + 什么 (Subject is what) structure, rather than the English "What is [Subject]" structure.
How do you pronounce it?
shén me shì
Did you know?
- If a speaker repeats 什么什么 ('what what'), it acts as a placeholder meaning 'so-and-so' or 'blah blah blah' when they are too lazy to list specific items.
- The word 是 (is) in 什么是 is a 'pure' copula that cannot be used to describe qualities, such as 'the apple is red', without using different words.
- While 什么 means 'what', it can be used as an adjective to mean 'some kind of'. For example, if someone says 什么书 ('what book'), they might be expressing confusion or skepticism about the book's existence or quality.
Examples in context
- 什么是格式塔疗法？What is Gestalt Therapy?This sentence is useful for asking for the definition of Gestalt Therapy.Tatoeba #8589162 by easononizuka, translation #1290950 by Bryanr12
- 什么是幸福？What is happiness?This sentence is useful for asking for the definition of happiness.Tatoeba #915053 by shanghainese, translation #404565 by telsfbay
- 什么是您最大的灵感来源？What is your greatest source of inspiration?This sentence is useful for asking about a source of inspiration.Tatoeba #502798 by fucongcong, translation #1852 by Swift
- 什么是狗？What is a dog?
- 啥是漫画？What is a comic?
- 那是什么？What is that?
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new term while studying.
- 伟 Wei什么是量子力学？Shénme shì liàngzǐ lìxué?What is quantum mechanics?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这是一个很深奥的物理概念。Zhè shì yīgè hěn shēn'ào de wùlǐ gàiniàn.It is a very profound physics concept.
- 伟 Wei你可以解释得简单一点吗？Nǐ kěyǐ jiěshì de jiǎndān yīdiǎn ma?Can you explain it a bit more simply?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没问题，我来试试。Méi wèntí, wǒ lái shì shì.No problem, I'll give it a try.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
