你属什么？
nǐ shǔ shénme?
What's your chinese zodiac sign · trad. 你屬什麼？
你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?) is a common question used to ask about someone's Chinese zodiac sign. It's often used as polite small talk, as it can indirectly help determine a person's approximate age.
What does 你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?) mean?
你属什么？ (nǐ shǔ shénme?) means “what's your Chinese zodiac sign” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you belong to what?”
When to use it
Neutral and polite, often used in casual conversation to learn someone's zodiac sign and indirectly their approximate age. For older people or in more formal settings, use 您属什么？ (nín shǔ shénme?) for added respect. To reply, say 我属 (wǒ shǔ) followed by your zodiac animal, for example, 我属羊 (wǒ shǔ yáng), 'I'm a sheep/goat'.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “nee shoo SHEN-muh?” The first two third tones become a rising tone followed by a dipping third tone, and the last syllable is light and unstressed.
Other ways to say it
- 您属什么？nín shǔ shénme?What's your Chinese zodiac sign? (polite)
- 你是什么生肖？nǐ shì shénme shēngxiào?What is your zodiac animal?
- 你哪年出生的？nǐ nǎ nián chūshēng de?What year were you born?
Examples
你属什么？我属龙。
nǐ shǔ shénme? wǒ shǔ lóng.
What's your Chinese zodiac sign? I'm a dragon.
第一次见面，他就问我属什么。
dì yī cì jiànmiàn, tā jiù wèn wǒ shǔ shénme.
The first time we met, he asked me what my zodiac sign was.
我们同岁吗？你属什么？
wǒmen tóngsuì ma? nǐ shǔ shénme?
Are we the same age? What's your Chinese zodiac sign?
Pro tip: Asking 你属什么？ is a common and polite way to indirectly inquire about someone's age, especially when meeting new people, as each zodiac sign corresponds to a specific birth year.
Related phrases
生肖 · Chinese zodiac老鼠 · Rat牛 · Ox
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