干什么

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 干什么 (gàn shénme) is a common phrase that means "what are you doing?" or "what do you want?" It is composed of two characters: 干 (gàn), which means "to do" or "to act," and 什么 (shénme), which means "what." The word 干什么 is used in a variety of situations, both formal and informal. It can be used to ask someone what they are doing at the moment, or to ask what they plan to do in the future. It can also be used to express surprise or disbelief, or to ask for clarification.The etymology of the word 干什么 is relatively straightforward. The character 干 (gàn) is derived from the ancient Chinese character 幹 (gàn), which meant "to do" or "to act." The character 什么 (shénme) is derived from the ancient Chinese character 甚麽 (shénme), which meant "what." The two characters were combined to form the word 干什么 in the late Qing Dynasty.The word 干什么 is a versatile phrase that can be used in a variety of situations. It is an essential part of the Chinese language, and it is important for HSK learners to understand its meaning and usage.