Chinese for English speakers Beach · Lesson 2

What/ which

Chinese question words — 什么 (what) — 今天下午你做什么? (What are you doing this afternoon?).

Conversation

  1. Muri Muri

    今天下午你做什么？

    jīn tiān xià wǔ nǐ zuò shén me?

    What are you going to today in the afternoon?

    Tip: 今天 <jīntān> = today 下午<xiàwǔ> = afternoon 做<zuò> = to do, to make 什么<shénme> = what

  2. Shelladonna Shelladonna

    我要看书。

    wǒ yào kàn shū.

    I'm reading a book.

    Tip: 要<yào> = need, have to, want

  3. Muri Muri

    看什么书呢？

    kàn shén me shū ne?

    What book are you reading?

  4. Shelladonna Shelladonna

    看音乐书。

    kàn yīn yuè shū.

    A book about music.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you ask 'what?' in Chinese?

什么 (shénme) = 'what'. 你做什么? = 'what are you doing?'. 这是什么? = 'what is this?'.

How is Chinese sentence order for questions?

Same as statements: Subject + question word in its natural position. 你 (you) + 做 (do) + 什么 (what) = 'you do what?' = 'what are you doing?'.

What is 看书?

'Read a book / read'. 看 (look/see/watch) + 书 (book). Note: 看 is also for watching TV/movies.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Chinese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.