啥子 (shà zǐ) — (dialectal pronoun) what; which thing

Definition

Dialect (mainly Sichuanese) equivalent of 什么 — meaning "what" in questions. Use 什么 in standard Mandarin; 啥子 marks casual, regional speech.

pronoun
(dialectal pronoun) whatwhich thing

Examples

  • 啥子？
    Nǐ zài zuò shà zǐ?
    What are you doing?
  • 啥子？。
    shà zǐ? Wǒ méi tīng qīng chǔ.
    What? I didn't hear clearly.
  • 啥子？
    Zhè shì shà zǐ dōng xī?
    What kind of thing is this?

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

啥sháwhat
子zǐ

啥 carries the question meaning, and 子 completes the dialectal form.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 啥 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

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