Daily · Chinese
Practice this phrase
Chinese · 中文
Translation
这是什么意思
Romanization
Zhe shi shenme yisi
Pronunciation
juh shir shun-muh ee-suh
When to use it
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Chinese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.
Example
这是什么意思 — a natural sentence for ordinary conversation for "what does this mean".
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FAQ
You say "这是什么意思" in Chinese. The romanized form is "Zhe shi shenme yisi", and a simple pronunciation cue is "juh shir shun-muh ee-suh".
This entry is marked as polite. The usage note explains when the phrase is appropriate and when you should soften it.
Use "juh shir shun-muh ee-suh" as a learner-friendly pronunciation cue. The romanization is "Zhe shi shenme yisi".
Use this in everyday conversation. These phrases are generally safe for work, travel, and casual interactions. In Chinese, tone and relationship matter; when unsure, choose a polite version or soften your delivery.