This short guide explains when to use nǎ 哪 and shénme 什么 to ask for a choice versus a general thing, with clear examples.
Nǎ 哪 – Which
Use nǎ 哪 to ask for a specific option from a known set, as in choosing one item, place, or person out of several. It often appears before a measure word.
qǐngwèn nǐ xǐhuan(tea) ma
Which tea do you like?
Shénme 什么 – What
Use shénme 什么 to ask for a general kind, category, or information without limiting the options; it can request names, types, or descriptions.
Examples
| Hanzi Sentence | Pinyin Sentence | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐸 哪只青蛙的歌声最悦耳？ | Nǎ zhī qīngwā de gēshēng zuì yuè'ěr? | Which frog's song is the most pleasant? | |
| 🌳 树上唱歌的是哪只青蛙？ | Shù shàng chànggē de shì nǎ zhī qīngwā? | Which frog on the tree is singing? | |
| 🐸 什么声音吸引了所有青蛙？ | Shénme shēngyīn xīyǐnle suǒyǒu qīngwā? | What sound attracted all the frogs? | |
| 🌧️ 什么让青蛙们开始合唱？ | Shénme ràng qīngwāmen kāishǐ héchàng? | What made the frogs start to chorus? | |
| 🐸 青蛙们在讨论：哪个池塘的水最清？ | Qīngwāmen zài tǎolùn: nǎ gè chítáng de shuǐ zuì qīng? | The frogs are discussing: which pond has the clearest water? | |
| 🐸 青蛙妈妈问小青蛙：你看到什么了吗？ | Qīngwā māma wèn xiǎo qīngwā: Nǐ kàn dào shénme le ma? | Frog mom asked little frog: what did you see? |
Summary
Remember: use nǎ 哪 to pick from known choices and shénme 什么 for open-ended questions about kind or identity.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025