(wèi shén me) - why, for what reason in Mandarin

wèishénme

Traditional: 為什麼

HSK 1

#71 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

why, for what reason

Word origin

A three-character question phrase meaning why. 为 (wèi) 'for' plus 什么 (shénme) 'what' gives literally 'for what'. 什 has the 亻 'person' radical, and 么 is a small phonetic element used in question words.

Origin: compound
Root: 为 (wèi, 'for') + 什 (shén) + 么 (me), together 'for what'

Stroke order

为

什

么

Examples

？

Why did you not come?

蓝lán？

Why is the sky blue?

。

I do not know why he is so angry.

Why has he not arrived yet?

Can you tell me why?

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Used in

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Mandarin · Free printables

为什么: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "为什么" (why, for what reason): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 2.