How to pronounce shen me (什么) in Chinese

Hear 什么 (shén me) spoken, see what it means, then record yourself for instant AI feedback on your pronunciation.

什么

shén me

Characters & meanings

shénT2

what (in 什么)

meT0

interrogative suffix (in 什么/怎么)

Common mistake

Rising + neutral (2-0): climb fully on shén with the tongue curled back for sh-, then drop me off lightly — don't flatten shén into shen.

Tone change in this word

么 is always neutral in 什么 and 怎么 — it never carries a full tone.

Example sentence

你在做什么?

Nǐ zài zuò shénme?

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