Chinese Grammar learning 语法: V + 什么 + Obj.

Adding 什么 (shénme) to the end of a verb can be used to change a sentence into a rhetorical question. This usage is often used with separable verbs.

Basic Structure

The most common structure you will see is:

Verb + 什么 + Object
Examples
This usage is best illustrated with examples:

Zhème dà niánjì le, jié shénme hūnā!
这么 大 年纪 了，结 什么 婚啊！

The speaker is implying that getting married at this age is a ridiculous notion.

Dào shénme qiàn, yòu búshì nǐ de cuò.
道 什么 歉，又 不是 你 的 错。

The speaker is implying that apologizing is completely unnecessary.

Guòshénme nián ā, hái dé yòu sònɡ hónɡbāo yòu sònɡlǐ.
过什么 年 啊，还 得 又 送 红包 又 送礼。

The speaker is implying that celebrating Chinese New Year isn't economically feasible.

Méiyǒu qián kàn shénme diànyǐnɡ.
没有 钱 看 什么 电影。

The speaker is implying that there's no money to watch a movie.

Hái chī shénme fàn, yào chídào le.
还 吃 什么 饭，要 迟到 了。

The speaker is implying that there's no time to eat.