您在找什么？
nín zài zhǎo shénme?
Are you looking for something · trad. 您在找什麼？
您在找什么？ (nín zài zhǎo shénme?) is a polite and common way to ask someone, "What are you looking for?" or "Are you looking for something?" It's often used by staff in shops or by hosts to offer help to a browsing customer, conveying a gentle and helpful tone.
What does 您在找什么？ (nín zài zhǎo shénme?) mean?
您在找什么？ (nín zài zhǎo shénme?) means “are you looking for something” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you are looking for what?”
When to use it
Polite and neutral. The use of 您 (nín) makes it respectful, suitable for addressing strangers, customers, or elders. For a more casual setting with friends, you might use 你在找什么？ (nǐ zài zhǎo shénme?).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “NEEN zye JOW shén-muh?” The tones are rising, falling, third, and neutral. The “zhǎo” is a third tone, so it dips and rises.
Other ways to say it
- 有什么可以帮您的吗？yǒu shénme kěyǐ bāng nín de ma?Is there anything I can help you with?
- 请问您需要帮助吗？qǐngwèn nín xūyào bāngzhù ma?Excuse me, do you need help?
- 您需要什么？nín xūyào shénme?What do you need? (more direct)
Examples
您在找什么？我来帮您。
nín zài zhǎo shénme? wǒ lái bāng nín.
What are you looking for? Let me help you.
请问，您在找什么？
qǐngwèn, nín zài zhǎo shénme?
Excuse me, are you looking for something?
如果您在找什么，请告诉我。
rúguǒ nín zài zhǎo shénme, qǐng gàosu wǒ.
If you are looking for something, please tell me.
Pro tip: When a question word like 什么 (shénme, "what") is used in a sentence, you do not need to add 吗 (ma) at the end to form a question. Adding 吗 would sound unnatural.
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