Verb + 什么 (a rebuke) · Verbe + 什么 (une réprimande)
A challenge is different from choosing a film
- Someone is staring angrily; the other person snaps 看什么看！ — What are you staring at?! The repeated phrase challenges the staring.
- A friend at the cinema asks 你想看什么？ — What would you like to watch? That question asks for a viewing choice.
A challenge is different from choosing a film
- Someone is staring angrily; the other person snaps to see看what / challenge word (context)什么to see看！ — What are you staring at?! The repeated phrase challenges the staring.
- A friend at the cinema asks you你want / think / miss想to see看what / challenge word (context)什么？ — What would you like to watch? That question asks for a viewing choice.
A person tells someone to stop staring angrily. What does 看什么看！ communicate?
The repeated phrase challenges the staring rather than requesting a viewing choice. 什么 can also form genuine information questions. Context, repetition and tone distinguish this rebuke from 你想看什么？
Read the action with 什么
- Verb + 什么 can challenge an action in context: 你急什么！ — What’s the rush?! The repeated verb + 什么 + verb also appears: 看什么看！
- Do not treat every 什么 as a rebuke. Read the surrounding exchange and delivery, not just the question word or punctuation.
you你rush急what for什么！
Read the action with what / challenge word (context)什么
- Verb + what / challenge word (context)什么 can challenge an action in context: you你rush / anxious (context)急what / challenge word (context)什么！ — What’s the rush?! The repeated verb + what / challenge word (context)什么 + verb also appears: to see看what / challenge word (context)什么to see看！
- Do not treat every what / challenge word (context)什么 as a rebuke. Read the surrounding exchange and delivery, not just the question word or punctuation.
you你rush急what for什么！
Use the lesson target 什么 in this demonstrated example: What's the rush?! 你急 ____!
Verb + 什么 challenges the action: 急什么!
The same action can have two conversational jobs
- 笑什么笑！ said sharply after unwanted laughter rebukes it. 你在笑什么？ asked with genuine curiosity requests the reason for laughter.
- The action is laughing in both exchanges. The intended response differs: stop or justify the action, versus provide information.
The same action can have two conversational jobs
- to laugh笑what / challenge word (context)什么to laugh笑！ said sharply after unwanted laughter rebukes it. you你at / in在to laugh笑what / challenge word (context)什么？ asked with genuine curiosity requests the reason for laughter.
- The action is laughing in both exchanges. The intended response differs: stop or justify the action, versus provide information.
In the stated sharp exchange after unwanted staring, 看什么看 means…
Here 什么 dismisses, not asks: 看什么看!
Match each stated exchange to its conversational job.
Use repetition and the supplied delivery and purpose, rather than treating every 什么 alike.
A written phrase does not fix one tone
- 你急什么？时间还早。 can reassure someone who is rushing: there is still time. The opening staring exchange is confrontational.
- A speaker’s tone and relationship matter. Do not label every 你急什么 as an angry insult or every question mark as sincere curiosity.
A written phrase does not fix one tone
- you你rush / anxious (context)急what / challenge word (context)什么？(concept of) time时间still / also还early早。 can reassure someone who is rushing: there is still time. The opening staring exchange is confrontational.
- A speaker’s tone and relationship matter. Do not label every you你rush / anxious (context)急what / challenge word (context)什么 as an angry insult or every question mark as sincere curiosity.
In the sharp staring exchange, 看什么看 is a genuine request to choose a film.
It challenges the staring in this context; 什么 can form information questions elsewhere.
Every 什么 sentence must be an angry rebuke.
A genuine film-choice question also uses 什么; the complete exchange determines its job.
你急什么？时间还早 must always be an angry insult.
In the stated reassuring exchange it can calm someone; delivery and context matter.
Choose a question that fits your purpose
- A teacher wants to know a student’s reading choice: 你想看什么书？ makes the information request explicit.
- 看什么看！ would challenge looking instead. Reusing the same 什么 without checking the complete phrase can change the interaction.
Choose a question that fits your purpose
- A teacher wants to know a student’s reading choice: you你want / think / miss想to see看what / challenge word (context)什么book书？ makes the information request explicit.
- to see看what / challenge word (context)什么to see看！ would challenge looking instead. Reusing the same what / challenge word (context)什么 without checking the complete phrase can change the interaction.
A teacher genuinely asks which book a student wants to read. Which wording fits?
你想看什么书 asks for the book choice. 看什么看 challenges the looking action.
Use the exchange to interpret the phrase
- Identify the action, repetition, surrounding words and intended response. A sharp challenge and a genuine question can contain the same 什么.
- Preserve context when translating. The phrase alone does not prove universal anger, politeness or a particular speaker relationship.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.
Use the exchange to interpret the phrase
- Identify the action, repetition, surrounding words and intended response. A sharp challenge and a genuine question can contain the same what / challenge word (context)什么.
- Preserve context when translating. The phrase alone does not prove universal anger, politeness or a particular speaker relationship.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.