什

shén

file of ten soldiers; mixed, miscellaneous

How to write 什, stroke by stroke

what; ten (used in fractions, writing checks etc); assorted; miscellaneous

Ideographic: A file of ten 十 people 亻

Made of 亻 + 十

什么shén mewhat?; something; anything
为什么wèi shén mewhy?; for what reason?
干什么gàn shén mewhat are you doing?; what's he up to?
没什么méi shén meit doesn't matter; it's nothing; never mind; think nothing of it; it's my pleasure; you're welcome
什么样shén me yàngwhat kind?; what sort?
什锦shí jǐn(food) assorted; mixed; assortment
什么人shén me rénwho?; what (kind of) person?
什么的shén me deand so on; and so forth; and what not
什么事shén me shìWhat's up?; Is something the matter?; (coll.) (used in rhetorical questions of the form 关 + {person} + 什么事 "what business is it of {person}'s?; what's it to {person}?")
家什jiā shiutensils; furniture
什么好说shén me hǎo shuōsth pertinent to say
什器shí qìvarious kinds of everyday utensils

我就是不知道说些什么。
wǒ jiù shì bù zhī dào shuō xiē shén me 。
I just don't know what to say.
你在干什么啊？
nǐ zài gàn shén me a ？
What are you doing?
你问这个干什么?
nǐ wèn zhè ge gàn shén me ?
Why do you ask?
我不知道应该说什么才好。
wǒ bù zhī dào yīng gāi shuō shén me cái hǎo 。
I'm at a loss for words.
他叫了一盘炒什锦。
tā jiào le yì pán chǎo shí jǐn 。
He ordered a chop suey.