这是什么颜色？
zhè shì shénme yánsè?
What color is this · trad. 這是什麼顏色？
这是什么颜色？ (zhè shì shénme yánsè) is a common question used to ask about the color of an object that is close by. It's a fundamental question often used in educational contexts, like a picture-book question for learning colors.
What does 这是什么颜色？ (zhè shì shénme yánsè?) mean?
这是什么颜色？ (zhè shì shénme yánsè?) means “what color is this” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “this is what color?”
When to use it
Neutral and direct. It's frequently used when teaching children about colors or when someone is learning Chinese and identifying objects.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “juh SHRR shun-muh YEN-suh.” 这 and 是 both fall; 什 rises and 么 is light; 颜 rises and 色 falls.
Other ways to say it
- 那是什么颜色？nà shì shénme yánsè?What color is that?
- 你喜欢什么颜色？nǐ xǐhuān shénme yánsè?What color do you like?
- 这是什么？zhè shì shénme?What is this?
Examples
这是什么颜色？是红色。
zhè shì shénme yánsè? shì hóngsè.
What color is this? It's red.
老师指着苹果问：这是什么颜色？
lǎoshī zhǐzhe píngguǒ wèn: zhè shì shénme yánsè?
The teacher pointed at the apple and asked: What color is this?
小孩子好奇地问：这是什么颜色？
xiǎoháizi hàoqí de wèn: zhè shì shénme yánsè?
The child curiously asked: What color is this?
Pro tip: To answer, you can simply state the color, such as “红色” (hóngsè, “red”), or use “是红色” (shì hóngsè, “It is red”).
Related phrases
一二三 · 1 2 3数一数 · Let's count这是什么动物？ · What animal is this
Want to speak Chinese for real?
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →
Start a free lesson with a native teacher →