Rhetorical question with shénme

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, a rhetorical question can be formed by using the word 什麼么 shénme which means “what.” It is used to emphasize a point or express surprise or disbelief. This is a way of making a statement or remarking on something, and the speaker isn’t necessarily expecting a response.

Structure

V or Adj + shénme + (啊 a)

玩wán什麼shénme啊a， 快點kuàidiǎn工作gōngzuò玩wán什么shénme啊a， 快点儿kuàidiǎnr工作gōngzuò
What are you playing? Hurry up and work.

你nǐ累lèi什麼shénme， 你nǐ根本gēnběn還沒háiméi開始kāishǐ工作gōngzuò你nǐ累lèi什么shénme， 你nǐ根本gēnběn还没háiméi开始kāishǐ工作gōngzuò
Why are you tired? You haven’t even started working yet.

說shuō什麼shénme啊a， 你nǐ覺得juéde這zhè有yǒu可能kěnéng發生fāshēng嗎ma？ 说shuō什么shénme啊a， 你nǐ觉得juéde这zhè有yǒu可能kěnéng发生fāshēng吗ma？
What are you saying? Do you think this is possible?

熱rè什麼shénme啊a， 你nǐ現在xiànzài就jiù覺得juéde熱rè， 夏天xiàtiān的時候deshíhòu你nǐ怎麼辦zěnmebàn热rè什么shénme啊a， 你nǐ现在xiànzài就jiù觉得juéde热rè， 夏天xiàtiān的时候deshíhou你nǐ怎么办zěnmebàn
You feel hot? If you’re feeling hot now, what will you do in the summer?

V + shénme + V

你nǐ哭kū什麼shénme哭kū， 被bèi罵mà的de人rén又yòu不是búshì你nǐ你nǐ哭kū什么shénme哭kū， 被bèi骂mà的de人rén又yòu不是búshì你nǐ
Why are you crying? The person being scolded isn’t you.

你們nǐmen看kàn什麼shénme看kàn， 沒méi看kàn過guò人rén吵架chǎojià啊a你们nǐmen看kàn什么shénme看kàn， 没méi看kàn过guò人rén吵架chǎojià啊a
What are you all looking at? Haven’t you seen people argue before?

吵chǎo什麼shénme吵chǎo， 你們nǐmen兩個人liǎnggerén都dōu有yǒu錯cuò吵chǎo什么shénme吵chǎo， 你们nǐmen两个人liǎnggerén都dōu有yǒu错cuò
Why are you arguing? Both of you are at fault.

比bǐ什麼shénme比bǐ， 你nǐ如果rúguǒ每天měitiān都dōu要yào拿ná自己zìjǐ跟gēn別人biérén比bǐ， 你nǐ永遠yǒngyuǎn都dōu不會búhuì開心kāixīn比bǐ什么shénme比bǐ， 你nǐ如果rúguǒ每天měitiān都dōu要yào拿ná自己zìjǐ跟gēn别人biérén比bǐ， 你nǐ永远yǒngyuǎn都dōu不会búhuì开心kāixīn
What are you comparing? If you compare yourself to others every day, you’ll never be happy.

V + shénme + O

如果rúguǒ你nǐ聘金pìnjīn拿ná不bù出來chūlái， 還hái想xiǎng結jié什麼shénme婚hūn如果rúguǒ你nǐ聘金pìnjīn拿ná不bù出来chūlái， 还hái想xiǎng结jié什么shénme婚hūn
If you can’t afford the dowry, why do you want to get married?

FYI
Originally, the concept of 聘金 pìnjīn (betrothal money) was a token of gratitude from the groom’s family to the bride’s parents, expressing their appreciation for raising their daughter.
Betrothal money can be categorized into 大聘 dàpìn (large betrothal money) and 小聘 xiǎopìn (small betrothal money). 大聘 dàpìn typically involves a larger sum, often exceeding $11,200 USD, and is sometimes seen as a way for the groom’s family to demonstrate their financial stability and reassure the bride’s family that she will not face hardships in her new life. If the bride’s family receives a 大聘 dàpìn, it is often used to purchase bridal furniture, although in many cases, it is returned to the groom’s family after the wedding.
Conversely, 小聘 xiǎopìn is often referred to as “clothing money” or “diaper money.” It symbolizes the bride’s family’s nurturing of their daughter and is used by the bride more directly in her new family.
In many major cities in Taiwan and China, changing social attitudes have led to a decline in the practice of betrothal money. Today, people view the act of marrying off a daughter as a joyful occasion rather than a transaction, and as a result, betrothal money is often no longer a requirement. However, in some rural areas, the tradition of betrothal money remains a significant aspect of wedding customs.

你nǐ生shēng什麼shénme氣qì， 該gāi生氣shēngqì的de人rén是shì我wǒ吧ba你nǐ生shēng什么shénme气qì， 该gāi生气shēngqì的de人rén是shì我wǒ吧ba
Why are you getting angry? I’m the one who should be angry.

你們nǐmen打dǎ什麼shénme架jià， 有yǒu話huà好好hǎohāo說shuō不行bùxíng嗎ma你们nǐmen打dǎ什么shénme架jià， 有yǒu话huà好好hǎohāo说shuō不行bùxíng吗ma
Why are you fighting? Can’t you have a proper conversation?

我wǒ連lián生活費shēnghuófèi都dōu有yǒu問題wèntí了le還hái買mǎi什麼shénme車chē我wǒ连lián生活费shēnghuófèi都dōu有yǒu问题wèntí了le还hái买mǎi什么shénme车chē
I’m having trouble with my living expenses, so why would I buy a car?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ What are we eating? We’re about to have a meal.

吃chī什麼shénme啊a， 等等děngděng就要jiùyào吃飯chīfàn了le吃chī什么shénme啊a， 等等děngděng就要jiùyào吃饭chīfàn了le

✔️ Why are you buying coffee? We’re running out of time to get to the airport.

買mǎi什麼shénme咖啡kāfēi， 快kuài來不及láibùjí去qù機場jīchǎng了le买mǎi什么shénme咖啡kāfēi， 快kuài来不及láibùjí去qù机场jīchǎng了le

✔️ Whatever you’re thinking, just do it.

想xiǎng什麼shénme想xiǎng， 做zuò就jiù對duì了le想xiǎng什么shénme想xiǎng， 做zuò就jiù对duì了le