How to Ask for a Word in Chinese - Examples and Variations

Master how to ask for a word in Chinese with the key pattern

Also Appears In: Can Ask for Clarification Level 1.1 Can Do Chinese

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Let's look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

Textbook用中文怎么说？(Textbook yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

课本。 (Kèběn.)

Textbook用中文怎么说？(Textbook yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

Pen用中文怎么说？(Pen yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

笔。 (Bǐ.)

Pen用中文怎么说？(Pen yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

这个用中文怎么说？(Zhèige yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

筷子。(Kuàizi.)

这个用中文怎么说？(Zhèige yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

那个用中文怎么说？(Nèige yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?)

铅笔。 (Qiānbǐ.)

那个用中文怎么说？(Nèige yòng Zhōngwén shuō?)

这个的中文是什么？(Zhèige de Zhōngwén shì shénme?)

是“课本”。(Shì "kèběn.")

这个的中文是什么？(Zhèige de Zhōngwén shì shénme?)

Did you notice how I used a different pattern?

这个的中文是什么？(Zhèige de Zhōngwén shì shénme?)

"What's this in Chinese?"

First is 这个 (zhèige), "this." 这个.

Next is the possessive-marking particle, 的 (de). 的. 的。

After that is 中文 (Zhōngwén), "Chinese language." 中文。

Together, 这个的中文 (zhèige de Zhōngwén) literally, means "the Chinese of this," but translates as, "the Chinese for this." 这个的中文。

Next is 是 (shì), here, think of it like the "is," as in "The Chinese for this is…" 是. 是。

Last is 什么 (shénme), "what." 什么. 什么。

All together, 这个的中文是什么 (Zhèige de Zhōngwén shì shénme?) literally, "The Chinese of this is what," but it translates as "What's this in Chinese?"

这个的中文是什么？

"What's this in Chinese?"

这个的中文是什么？

This is a very useful pattern for using Chinese to learn Chinese.

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won't need it for this lesson.

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