# HSK 2 Fixed Phrase 什么的 (shénme de): Meaning, Structure & Examples | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-2-fixed-phrases-cceea17e86 Language: en Content ID: web-grammar-hsk-2-fixed-phrases-cceea17e86 HSK levels: 2 Updated: 2026-10-23T04:55:37.344Z Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Learn how to use the HSK 2 fixed phrase 什么的 (shénme de) to end casual lists and give non-exhaustive examples in Mandarin Chinese. Grammar [HSK 2 · Phrases › Fixed phrases › Other fixed phrases](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-2#hsk-2-g041) # Using 什么的 (shénme de) to Mean "And So On" in Chinese The fixed phrase 什么的 (shénme de) is placed at the end of a noun, verb phrase, or short list to mean "and so on", "or whatever", or "and things like that" in casual spoken Mandarin. Example 1 、 Example 2 什么的 Example sentence 我喜欢吃苹果、香蕉什么的。 Wǒ xǐhuan chī píngguǒ, xiāngjiāo shénme de. I like eating apples, bananas, and things like that. Here 什么的 follows two nouns to show that apples and bananas are just examples of fruits the speaker likes. A common mistake × 我买了什么的牛奶、面包。 Wǒ mǎi le shénme de niúnǎi, miànbāo. Incorrect: Intended as "I bought things like milk and bread." For the intended list of examples, 什么的 follows the listed nouns rather than preceding them: 我买了牛奶、面包什么的。 Corrected example: 我买了牛奶、面包什么的。 **Read the full explanation and examples** ## What 什么的 Means in Everyday Conversation In the HSK 2 grammar outline, 什么的 (shénme de) is classified under fixed phrases (固定短语) within the "other" (其他) subcategory. Although it contains the question word 什么 (shénme, "what") and the particle 的 (de), the combination functions as a single conversational unit rather than a question. Speakers attach it to the end of one or more examples to signal that there are other similar items or actions in the same category that do not need to be named. In natural English, 什么的 translates to "and so on", "and things like that", "and stuff", or "or whatever". Because it softens a statement and makes a list feel less rigid, it is very common in everyday spoken Mandarin. 我喜欢吃苹果、香蕉什么的。 Wǒ xǐhuan chī píngguǒ, xiāngjiāo shénme de. I like eating apples, bananas, and things like that. Here 什么的 follows two nouns to show that apples and bananas are just examples of fruits the speaker likes. ## Sentence Structures with 什么的 The most frequent way to use 什么的 is directly after a short list of two or three parallel items. These items are usually nouns, but they can also be short verb-object phrases describing typical activities. In writing, parallel items inside a list are typically separated by the enumeration comma (、). Example 1 、 Example 2 什么的 周末我常常看书、听音乐什么的。 Zhōumò wǒ chángcháng kàn shū, tīng yīnyuè shénme de. On weekends I often read books, listen to music, and so on. Here 什么的 follows two verb-object phrases describing typical weekend activities. Notice that another clause or comment can follow 什么的 if the sentence continues. The phrase simply closes the list itself, whether that list sits at the very end of the sentence or inside a longer statement. 桌子上有书、笔什么的，很乱。 Zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū, bǐ shénme de, hěn luàn. There are books, pens, and stuff on the desk; it is very messy. The list closed by 什么的 can appear at the end of the first clause before a follow-up comment. You do not always need multiple items. Speakers also place 什么的 after a single noun or action when offering a casual suggestion or naming just one representative example. In this pattern, it often feels like English "or something" or "or whatever". Single Example (Noun or Verb Phrase) 什么的 要是你累了，就去喝杯茶什么的。 Yàoshi nǐ lèi le, jiù qù hē bēi chá shénme de. If you are tired, go drink a cup of tea or something. Following a single action, 什么的 marks a relaxed, non-exclusive suggestion. ## Register Limits and Contrast with 等 (děng) Knowing when not to use 什么的 is just as important as knowing its word order. Because 什么的 has an informal, slightly vague tone, it belongs in conversation, personal messages, and informal storytelling. It is generally unsuitable for formal notices, official reports, or academic writing. - 什么的 is conversational and can follow one example or a short list. For a formal list with a following category or a counted total, learn a suitable 等 construction rather than adding that material mechanically after 什么的. - 等 is neutral to formal and common in written lists. It can follow two or more examples, but one example is also possible, as in 北京等地 (“Beijing and other places”). It can introduce a summarising category, unlike the basic conversational 什么的 pattern taught here. 这个学校有图书馆、运动场等。 Zhège xuéxiào yǒu túshūguǎn, yùndòngchǎng děng. This school has a library, a sports ground, etc. In a more formal or informational description, 等 is preferred over casual 什么的. 什么的 does not itself make a question. Choose punctuation for the whole utterance: a statement may end with 。, while a question uses ？. A question can be signalled by its structure, context, or intonation; an explicit final question particle is not required. ## Common Learner Mistake: Word Order A frequent error for learners happens when they see the character 的 (de) and assume the phrase must go before a noun as a modifier, like an adjective phrase. However, when 什么的 means "and things like that", it is strictly a post-list marker. Placing it before the listed nouns to mean "things like milk and bread" is ungrammatical. × 我买了什么的牛奶、面包。 Wǒ mǎi le shénme de niúnǎi, miànbāo. Incorrect: Intended as "I bought things like milk and bread." For the intended list of examples, 什么的 follows the listed nouns rather than preceding them: 我买了牛奶、面包什么的。 Corrected example: 我买了牛奶、面包什么的。 我买了牛奶、面包什么的。 Wǒ mǎi le niúnǎi, miànbāo shénme de. I bought milk, bread, and things like that. Correct replacement: Name the example items first, then place 什么的 immediately after the list. Always say the specific examples first, and attach 什么的 directly after the final item in the group. ## Frequently asked questions **Does a sentence with 什么的 need a question mark?** No. When 什么的 is used as a fixed phrase meaning "and so on", it loses its interrogative meaning. You only use a question mark if the overall sentence is a question for another reason (for example, if it ends with 吗). **Can I use 什么的 after just one thing?** Yes. In casual speech, putting 什么的 after a single noun or verb phrase means "or something like that", showing that the item mentioned is just one possible example. **Why is 什么的 listed under Level 2 in this guide?** In the 2025-11 edition of the HSK examination syllabus (labeled for 2026-07 implementation), the fixed phrase 什么的 is listed at Level 2. Which syllabus version applies to a specific test booking depends on the test centre and test date. **Source**[hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com · PDF page 390](https://hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com/3.0/%E6%96%B0%E7%89%88HSK%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%B21219.pdf#page=390) ## Continue in the app Full mock exams are available in HSKReady. 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