Chinese word

什么样

Pronunciation

Pinyinshén me yàng

Meaning

  • pronounwhat kind of

Example

你想要什么样的礼物？nǐ xiǎng yào shén me yàng de lǐ wù

What kind of gift do you want?

Illustration for 什么样 (what kind of)

More examples

她不知道他是什么样的人。tā bù zhī dào tā shì shén me yàng de rén

She doesn't know what kind of person he is.

Core concept

A way to point to the type or qualities that distinguish one person, thing, or situation from another.

Common phrases

  • 什么样的礼物shén me yàng de lǐ wù

    what kind of gift

  • 什么样的衣服shén me yàng de yī fú

    what kind of clothes

  • 什么样的人shén me yàng de rén

    what kind of person

Similar words

什么shén me: Asks for the identity or nature of a person, thing, or situation.
怎么样zěn me yàng: Asks what a person, thing, or situation is like.
哪个nǎ ge: Asks which one of several known people or things is meant.
哪种nǎ zhǒng: Asks which kind of thing is meant among several categories.

Definition in Chinese

表示对人、物或情况的样子、品质或类别的询问，可用于外貌、功能或程度等方面的具体询问，常与名词或形容词连用。biǎo shì duì rén wù huò qíng kuàng de yàng zi pǐn zhì huò lèi bié de xún wèn kě yòng yú wài mào gōng néng huò chéng dù děng fāng miàn de jù tǐ xún wèn cháng yǔ míng cí huò xíng róng cí lián yòng

Word origin

什么 (shénme, "what") + 样 (yàng, "kind or appearance") forms a question about the form or nature of an unknown person, thing, or situation.

Usage tips

  • The answer can describe more than looks: it can name a function, level, or category, which makes this word useful when a broad question needs a specific description.

Other meanings

  • what is ___ likepronoun

Word lists with this word