你说什么
nǐ shuō shénme
What are you saying · trad. 你說什麼
你说什么 (nǐ shuō shénme) is the most common and direct way to ask "what are you saying?" or "what did you say?" in Mandarin Chinese. It can be used to ask for clarification when you didn't hear or understand, or to express surprise or disbelief.
What does 你说什么 (nǐ shuō shénme) mean?
你说什么 (nǐ shuō shénme) means “what are you saying” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you say what.”
When to use it
Neutral to direct. Depending on your tone, it can sound abrupt or even challenging. To be more polite, especially to elders or superiors, use 您说什么 (nín shuō shénme). Adding particles like 呢 (ne) or 呀 (ya) can soften the tone or add a nuance of curiosity or mild surprise. If you simply didn't hear, you can also say 对不起，请再说一遍 (duìbuqǐ, qǐng zài shuō yī biàn), meaning "Sorry, please say it again."
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "nee-SHWOH shuhn-muh." The first syllable is a third tone, the second a first tone, and the third syllable (么) is a neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 您说什么nín shuō shénmewhat are you saying? (polite)
- 你说什么呢nǐ shuō shénme newhat are you saying? (softer, often implying 'what are you talking about?')
- 你说什么来着nǐ shuō shénme láizhewhat were you saying (a moment ago)?
Examples
你说什么？我没听清楚。
nǐ shuō shénme? wǒ méi tīng qīngchu.
What did you say? I didn't hear clearly.
你到底在说什么呢？
nǐ dàodǐ zài shuō shénme ne?
What exactly are you talking about?
对不起，你刚才说什么来着？
duìbuqǐ, nǐ gāngcái shuō shénme láizhe?
Sorry, what were you just saying?
Pro tip: The direct phrase 你说什么 can sometimes sound a bit abrupt or even accusatory if not said with a soft, questioning tone. Adding the particle 呢 (ne) or 呀 (ya) at the end, as in 你说什么呢 or 你说什么呀, can soften it and make it sound more natural, often implying mild curiosity or surprise rather than a blunt demand for repetition.
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