Anyone interested in the Chinese language or culture will benefit from learning how to say “What is this?” in Chinese Mandarin. This basic phrase will come in handy when asking for information about an object or item, whether you’re a traveler, student, or simply curious about the language.
“What is this” in Chinese Mandarin
The basic translation of “What is this” in Chinese Mandarin is “这是什么?” (zhè shì shén me?). It’s a straightforward question that can be applied to a variety of situations.
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Example
A: 这是什么？(Zhè shì shén me?) What is this?
B: 这是一本书。(Zhè shì yì běn shū.) This is a book.
A: 哦，谢谢。(Ó, xiè xiè.) Translation: Oh, thank you.
If you’re not sure what an object is and need assistance identifying it, you can use the phrase “我不太确定，你能告诉我这是什么吗?” (wǒ bú tài què dìng, nǐ néng gào su wǒ zhè shì shén me ma?).
This phrase translates to “I’m not sure, can you tell me what this is?” and is useful when you’re unsure about the identity of an object and need assistance identifying it.
Alternative Ways to Say “What is this” in Chinese
1、这个东西是什么zhè gè dōng xi shì shén me
If you want to be more specific about the object you’re asking about, use the phrase”这个东西是什么?” (zhè gè dōng xi shì shén me?).
This translates to “What is this thing?” and is helpful when you want to be more specific about the object you’re enquiring about.
This phrase would be appropriate if you were in a store and wanted to know what a specific product was.
Example
A: 你看到那个盒子了吗？(nǐ kàn dào nà gè hézi le ma?)
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Have you seen that box over there?
B: 哪个盒子？(nǎ gè hézi?)
Which box?
A: 那个黑色的盒子。(nà gè hēisè de hézi)
The black box.
B: 噢，那个。这个东西是什么？(ō, nà gè. zhège dōngxi shì shénme?)
Oh, that one. What is this thing?
A: 这个是一个收纳盒，可以放一些小东西，比如钥匙、零钱等等。(zhège shì yīgè shōunà hé, kěyǐ fàng yīxiē xiǎo dōngxi, bǐrú yào shí, língqián děngděng)
This is a storage box, you can put some small things in it, such as keys, change, and so on.
B: 哦，知道了，谢谢！(òu, zhīdào le, xièxiè!)
Oh, I see. Thanks!
2、这是什么东西zhè shì shén me dōng xi
Another useful phrase to use when asking about an object is “请问这是什么东西?” (qǐng wèn zhè shì shén me dōng xi?). This translates to “Excuse me, what is this thing?” and is a polite way to ask someone for information about an object. This phrase is often used when you’re asking a stranger or someone you don’t know well.
Example
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A: 你看到我的钢笔了吗？(nǐ kàn dào wǒ de gāngbǐ le ma?)
Have you seen my pen?
B: 没有，你的钢笔是什么样子的？(méiyǒu, nǐ de gāngbǐ shì shénme yàngzi de?)
No, what does your pen look like?
A: 是一支黑色的钢笔，很常见的款式。(shì yī zhī hēisè de gāngbǐ, hěn chángjiàn de kuǎnshì)
It’s a black pen, a very common style.
B: 那我帮你找找看。这是什么东西？(nà wǒ bāng nǐ zhǎo zhǎo kàn. zhè shì shénme dōngxi?)
Alright, let me help you look for it. What is this thing?
A: 那是我的钢笔！太谢谢你了。(nà shì wǒ de gāngbǐ! tài xièxiè nǐ le)
That’s my pen! Thank you so much.
B: 不客气，我很高兴能帮上你。(bù kèqì, wǒ hěn gāoxìng néng bāng shàng nǐ)
You’re welcome, I’m glad I could help you.
To summarize, learning how to say “What is this” in Chinese Mandarin is a simple but useful skill that can be useful in a variety of situations. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced Mandarin learner, practicing these phrases will help you communicate more effectively and confidently in Chinese Mandarin-speaking environments. So, the next time you see something you don’t recognize, don’t be afraid to ask, “这是什么” or one of the longer phrases outlined above.
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHAT
