Chinese phrase
〜是什么？ 〜 shì shén me
Meaning
What is ___?
When to use it
This pattern asks what something is. It is used for clear, neutral questions about an unfamiliar object, name, or type.
Example dialogue
这是什么？ zhè shì shén me
What is this?
那是本地特产，叫黑芝麻糊。 nà shì běn dì tè chǎn jiào hēi zhī má hú
That is a local specialty called black sesame paste.