什么 — meaning in English

English meaning

• any det Used to refer to one or some of a thing, without specifying which, especially in questions and negatives.
• anything pron Any thing, event, or fact at all, of whatever kind.
• basis noun The foundation or starting point for an argument, theory, or decision.
• everything pronoun All the things being talked about or considered as a whole.
• huh interjection Used to show confusion, surprise, or to ask someone to repeat what they said.
• may verb Used to say that something is possible or might happen.
• naught pron Nothing; zero.
• nothing pron Not anything; no thing at all.
• nothingness noun The state of not existing; complete emptiness or void.
• what det Used to ask for the identity or nature of something, from an open set of possibilities.
• whatever det Any at all, no matter which; used to show something applies without restriction.
• wherefore adv For what reason; why (archaic).
• which det Used to ask someone to specify one or more people or things from a known set.
• whom pron The object form of "who," used when referring to the person a verb or preposition acts on.
• why adv For what reason or purpose; used to ask a question.

Senses

什么 is used for these senses in English:

• any A/an, each or some, no matter its/their identity or nature.
• anything Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatsoever; a thing of any kind; something or other.
• basis A regular frequency.
• come again (idiomatic, informal, by ellipsis) A polite formula used when one has not heard or understood what has been said, or to indicate surprise.
• come on An expression of disbelief.
• everything (literally) All the things under discussion.
• huh (with rising pitch) Used to reinforce a question.
• may (subjunctive present, defective, chiefly, poetic) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect). [from 16th c.]

any — full definition

1. det Used to refer to one or some of a thing, without specifying which, especially in questions and negatives.
2. det No matter which one; every single one, without exception.
3. adv At all; to any extent (used to intensify a comparison, usually negative).
4. pron Any person or thing at all, unspecified.

anything — full definition

1. pron Any thing, event, or fact at all, of whatever kind.
2. adv To any degree or in any way (used to strengthen a comparison).

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