что такое
chto takoye
The English phrase "what is" is expressed in Russian as что такое (chto takoye).
что такое is used to ask for the definition or explanation of a noun or an abstract concept. For example, you would use it to ask "What is climate?" rather than using it to identify a physical object sitting on a table.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of что (what) and такое (such a thing/such), literally meaning "what is such a thing".
Which one should you use?
While что такое is used for definitions, что это is a shorter, more direct way to ask "what is this". If you want to add emphasis to the identity or nature of an object you are looking at, you can use что это такое instead of the shorter version.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask "what is this?" when pointing at a specific physical object, the standard way is to say что это такое by adding the pronoun это (this).
How do you pronounce it?
chto takoye
Did you know?
- If you use что такое to ask about a person, you might sound like you are questioning their very existence or humanity rather than just asking who they are.
- The word что shares a common ancestor with the English word 'what' and the Latin 'quid', making them distant linguistic cousins.
- In Russian, you can use что такое as a rhetorical exclamation to express disbelief, such as Да что это такое!, which functions more like 'I can't believe this!' than a question.
Examples in context
- О, это что такое?Oh, what is this?This sentence shows how to express surprise when asking what something is using что такое.Tatoeba #4375126 by marafon, translation #33021 by orcrist
- Что такое бой быков?What is bullfighting?This sentence uses что такое to ask for a definition of a concept.Tatoeba #6764805 by odexed, translation #1656446 by CK
- Итак, что такое климат?So, what is climate?This sentence uses что такое to ask for the definition of a term.Tatoeba #11734354 by retr0ra1n, translation #11734352 by retr0ra1n
- Чё это тако́е?What's this?
- Чё это значи́т?What does this mean?
- 126 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Andrey are looking at a cookbook.
- Мария MariaАндрей, что такое шафран?Andrey, chto takoe shafran?Andrey, what is saffron?
- Андрей AndreyЭто дорогая специя.Eto dorogaya spetsiya.It is an expensive spice.
- Мария MariaА что такое паприка?A chto takoe paprika?And what is paprika?
- Андрей AndreyЭто молотый сладкий перец.Eto molotyy sladkiy perets.It is ground sweet pepper.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries что, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
