这是什么？
zhè shì shénme?
What is this · trad. 這是什麼？
这是什么？ (Zhè shì shénme) is a fundamental question used to ask about the identity of an unknown object or item. It's perfect for pointing at something and asking for its name, making it a fast way to build vocabulary.
What does 这是什么？ (zhè shì shénme?) mean?
这是什么？ (zhè shì shénme?) means “what is this” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “this is what?”
When to use it
Neutral and versatile. It's appropriate in almost any casual or semi-formal situation. To ask about a person, use 这是谁？ (Zhè shì shéi?), “Who is this?”
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “juh shrr shuhn-muh?” The first syllable has a falling tone, the second a rising tone, and the last two are neutral.
Other ways to say it
- 那是什么？nà shì shénme?What is that?
- 这是谁？zhè shì shéi?Who is this?
- 这是什么意思？zhè shì shénme yìsi?What does this mean?
Examples
这是什么？我没见过。
zhè shì shénme? wǒ méi jiànguo.
What is this? I haven't seen it before.
你手里拿的这是什么？
nǐ shǒuli ná de zhè shì shénme?
What is this you're holding in your hand?
这是什么书？
zhè shì shénme shū?
What kind of book is this?
Pro tip: When asking about something specific, you can add a classifier or noun before the question word, like 这是什么书？ (What kind of book is this?).
Related phrases
那是什么？ · What is that为什么？ · Why什么时候？ · When
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