“And So On” in Chinese 1 – 什么的shénme de

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Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

“And So On” in Chinese 1 — 什么的 shénme de

When you list a few examples and want to say “and so on” or “and stuff like that,” the casual way in Chinese is to add 什么的 shénme de at the end.

什麼的 shénme de and so on in Chinese

什么的 shénme de is relaxed, everyday spoken Chinese. It tells the listener: “these are just examples, there’s more like this.”

1Structure

Example 1、Example 2、Example 3 + 什么的 shénme de

List your examples, separated by the enumeration comma 、, then add 什么的 shénme de. The examples can be nouns or short actions.

我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan看kàn电影diànyǐng、听tīng音乐yīnyuè、玩wán游戏yóuxì什么shénme的de
I like watching movies, listening to music, playing games, and so on.
冰箱bīngxiāng里li有yǒu牛奶niúnǎi、西瓜xīguā、鸡蛋jīdàn什么shénme的de
There’s milk, watermelon, eggs, and stuff in the fridge.
我wǒ的de狗gǒu会huì很hěn多duō指令zhǐlìng，握手wòshǒu、坐下zuòxià、趴下pāxià、站zhàn起来qǐlai什么shénme的de她tā都dōu会huì
My dog knows lots of commands: paw, sit, lie down, stand up, and so on. She can do them all.
帮bāng我wǒ拿ná瓶píng酒jiǔ过来guòlai，威士忌wēishìjì、伏特加fútèjiā什么shénme的de都dōu可以kěyǐ
Bring me a bottle of something. Whiskey, vodka, whatever is fine.
养yǎng孩子háizi很hěn花钱huāqián，要yào买mǎi很hěn多duō东西dōngxi、要yào补习bǔxí什么shénme的de
Raising kids is expensive: you have to buy lots of stuff, pay for cram school, and so on.
📌 Just one example? Still works

什么的 shénme de can also follow just one example. Then it means “… or something,” keeping the suggestion light and open.

我们wǒmen去qù喝hē个ge咖啡kāfēi什么shénme的de吧ba
Let’s go grab a coffee or something.
周末zhōumò要yào不bú要yào去qù看kàn电影diànyǐng什么shénme的de？
Want to go see a movie or something this weekend?

2Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ买mǎi了le苹果píngguǒ、香蕉xiāngjiāo什么shénme的de水果shuǐguǒ
✅ 我wǒ买mǎi了le苹果píngguǒ、香蕉xiāngjiāo什么shénme的de
什么的 shénme de always ends the list. It can’t be followed by a noun that sums up the list. (That’s what 等 děng does, in “And So On” in Chinese 2.)
❌ 什么shénme的de咖啡kāfēi、茶chá我wǒ都dōu喝hē
✅ 咖啡kāfēi、茶chá什么shénme的de我wǒ都dōu喝hē
Unlike “things like…” in English, 什么的 shénme de comes after the examples, never before them.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I bought bread, milk, eggs, and so on.
我wǒ买mǎi了le面包miànbāo、牛奶niúnǎi、鸡蛋jīdàn什么shénme的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
02On weekends I like to sleep in, watch TV, and stuff like that.
周末zhōumò我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan睡shuì懒觉lǎnjiào、看kàn电视diànshì什么shénme的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
03Let’s go eat some noodles or something.
我们wǒmen去qù吃chī个ge面miàn什么shénme的de吧ba。
👆 Tap to reveal
04There are cats, dogs, rabbits, and so on at his house.
他tā家jiā有yǒu猫māo、狗gǒu、兔子tùzi什么shénme的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
05She can sing, dance, and so on.
她tā会huì唱歌chànggē、跳舞tiàowǔ什么shénme的de。
👆 Tap to reveal
06Pens, paper, and stuff are all on the table.
笔bǐ、纸zhǐ什么shénme的de都dōu在zài桌子zhuōzi上shang。
👆 Tap to reveal
07Tea, coffee, juice, anything is fine.
茶chá、咖啡kāfēi、果汁guǒzhī什么shénme的de都dōu可以kěyǐ。
👆 Tap to reveal
08Do you want to go shopping or something tomorrow?
你nǐ明天míngtiān想xiǎng去qù逛街guàngjiē什么shénme的de吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→“And So On” in Chinese 2 — 等 děng & 等等 děngděng(HSK 4)

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