What Meaning(定義、用法、例句與發音)

what

pronoun

快速理解

What does "What" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "What"?

「what」是一個多功能疑問詞,主要用於詢問資訊、表達驚訝或強調特定事物。

  1. 1

    詢問事物

    EN: What is that?

    翻譯: 那是什麼?

  2. 2

    詢問選擇或種類

    EN: What kind of music do you like?

    翻譯: 你喜歡哪種音樂?

  3. 3

    用於感嘆句

    EN: What a beautiful day!

    翻譯: 多麼美好的一天啊!

  4. 4

    詢問意見或想法

    EN: What do you think about this plan?

    翻譯: 你對這個計畫有什麼看法?

小提醒:注意「what」與「which」的區別:「what」用於開放式詢問(無限定選項),「which」則用於從已知選項中選擇。例如:「What color do you like?」(任何顏色)vs. 「Which color do you like, red or blue?」(紅色或藍色)。

發音(How to Pronounce "What" in English

How to pronounce "What" in English?"What" US vs UK pronunciation

點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。

Real-life Examples of "What" from YouTube Videos

South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News

BBC News

So if Trump is to sit down with Kim, what do you want them to achieve?

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Definitions(定義)

What are the definitions of "What"?How does "What" change by context?

1. used to ask for information about something

用於詢問關於某事物的資訊

What is your name?

你叫什麼名字?

What time is it?

現在幾點?

What did you say?

你說了什麼?

2. the thing or things that

…的事物

I heard what you said.

我聽到你說的話。

This is what I need.

這就是我需要的東西。

Tell me what happened.

告訴我發生了什麼事。

3. used to express surprise, disbelief, or other strong emotion

用於表達驚訝、不相信或其他強烈情緒

What! You're leaving already?

什麼!你已經要走了?

What a beautiful day!

多麼美好的一天啊!

What nonsense!

真是胡說八道!

4. asking for a choice from an indefinite set

詢問從不確定範圍中的選擇

What color do you like?

你喜歡什麼顏色?

What kind of music do you listen to?

你聽什麼樣的音樂?

What book are you reading?

你在讀什麼書?

5. used to refer to something you are about to mention

用於指即將提及的事物

I'll give you what money I have.

我會把我所有的錢給你。

He spent what little time he had with his family.

他把僅有的一點時間用來陪伴家人。

Grammar & Patterns(句型)

What are common sentence patterns for "What"?How to make natural sentences with "What"?
PatternMeaningExample
what + be + noun phrase?詢問事物的性質或類別What is your name? (你叫什麼名字?)
what + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb?詢問正在發生或將要發生的事情What are you doing? (你在做什麼?)
what + noun詢問關於特定事物的資訊What time is it? (現在幾點?)
what + to + verb表達不確定或疑問的動作I don't know what to do. (我不知道該做什麼。)
what + clause引導名詞子句,作為動詞或介係詞的受詞Tell me what happened. (告訴我發生了什麼事。)
what about + noun/gerund?提出建議或詢問意見What about going to the movies? (去看電影怎麼樣?)
what if + clause詢問假設情況的後果What if it rains tomorrow? (如果明天下雨怎麼辦?)

用法說明

How is "What" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "What"?

what + 名詞 vs what + 動詞

  • what + 名詞 用於詢問特定類別或種類的事物,焦點在於名詞所定義的範圍。例如:"What book are you reading?"(你在讀什麼書?)
  • what + 動詞 則用於詢問動作或事件本身,動詞是核心。例如:"What happened?"(發生了什麼事?)
  • 當動詞是 do 時,兩者區別明顯:"What sport do you play?"(你從事什麼運動?)詢問種類;"What are you doing?"(你在做什麼?)詢問正在進行的動作。
  • what 作關係代名詞引導名詞子句時,其後接續的動詞形式取決於 what 在子句中的角色(主詞或受詞)。

對比範例: EN: What food do you like? 翻譯: 你喜歡什麼食物?

EN:What are you cooking?

翻譯:你在煮什麼?

總結建議

詢問事物「種類」用 what + 名詞;詢問「動作」或「事件」本身則直接用 what + 動詞

易混淆對比

What is the difference between "What" and similar words?How to choose "What" vs alternatives?

what vs which

"what" 用於開放式提問,沒有預設選項;"which" 用於從已知或有限的選項中選擇。

what vs how

"what" 詢問事物、名稱或性質;"how" 詢問方式、狀態、程度或數量。

what vs whatever

"what" 是疑問代名詞,用於提問;"whatever" 是關係代名詞或強調用語,表示「無論什麼」或帶有不在乎的語氣。

口語用法

How is "What" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "What"?

引述

在口語中,常以「what」引述自己或他人剛說過的話,表示驚訝、懷疑或要求對方重複。 EN: What? You already finished the whole project? 翻譯: 什麼?你已經完成整個專案了?

EN:He said he's quitting his job. — What? Why?

翻譯:他說他要辭職。— 什麼?為什麼?

語氣強調

用於句尾或句中,加強驚訝、憤怒或難以置信的語氣。 EN: You did what to my car? 翻譯: 你對我的車做了什麼?

EN:I have no idea what you're talking about, what.

翻譯:我完全不知道你在說什麼,真的。

停頓填充

作為思考時的填充詞,類似「呃…」、「那個…」,通常拉長音為「what…」。 EN: The movie was about... what... a detective and a ghost. 翻譯: 那部電影是關於…那個…一個偵探和一個鬼魂。

EN:I need to buy, what, eggs, milk, and bread.

翻譯:我需要買,呃…雞蛋、牛奶和麵包。

正式寫作注意:上述口語用法(尤其是「停頓填充」和句尾的「語氣強調」)在正式書寫或學術文章中應避免使用,以保持文體的嚴謹與清晰。

常見短語

What common collocations use "What"?What fixed phrases with "What" should I remember?

what about

what about + noun/pronoun/gerund

用於提出建議、詢問意見或提醒對方考慮某事

what if

what if + clause

用於詢問假設性情況的後果或可能性

so what

so what

用於表示某事不重要或無關緊要,帶有輕蔑或挑釁的語氣

what for

what for

詢問原因或目的

what's up

what's up

非正式問候語,詢問近況或發生了什麼事

what else

what else

詢問還有其他什麼事物

guess what

guess what

用於引出一件令人驚訝或有趣的消息

what matters

what matters (is/was...)

指重要或關鍵的事物

常見錯誤

What are common mistakes with "What"?Which "What" sentences look correct but are wrong?

×What is a capital of France?

What is the capital of France?

當詢問特定、唯一的事物時,應使用定冠詞 'the',而非不定冠詞 'a'。

×What are your favorite color?

What is your favorite color?

主詞 'your favorite color' 是單數,因此動詞應使用 'is'。若詢問複數事物,主詞本身應為複數,例如 'What are your favorite colors?'。

×What of these books do you prefer?

Which of these books do you prefer?

當選項有限或明確時(例如 'these books'),應使用 'which' 來詢問特定選擇。'What' 用於開放性或無限定範圍的詢問。

×What are you looking?

What are you looking at?

動詞 'look' 是不及物動詞,需要介系詞 'at' 來連接受詞。詢問對象時,介系詞必須保留在句尾或置於 'what' 之前(較正式)。

×Can you tell me what time is it?

Can you tell me what time it is?

在間接問句或名詞子句中(如 'tell me what...'),主詞和動詞的順序應恢復為陳述句語序,而非疑問句語序。

×What thing do you want?

What do you want?

'What' 本身已包含 'thing' 的含義,加上 'thing' 是多餘且不自然的。直接使用 'What' 詢問事物即可。

詞形變化

What are the word forms of "What"?What are tense/participle forms of "What"?