Two forms of what?

[aafrophone]

I was just wondering if there is a difference between the words 什麼 and 甚麼. I first learned it as 什麼 in the typical beginning sentence 你叫什麼名字. But this new book that I'm using (Beginning Chinese Reader, John DeFrancis) uses the second form. What is the difference between the two (if there even is one)?

[skylee]

No difference. 什 is the simplified form of 甚 in 甚麼. Some of the simplified characters are commonly used even if people, like me, write in the traditional script. Other examples include 台 vs 臺, 才 vs 纔, 只 vs 祇. Do note that the simplified form of a traditional character is not always used in all the usages of that traditional character. For example, we don't use 什 to replace 甚 in 甚至.

[Annaliu]

I think it is a little difference bewteen 什么 and 甚么.

Firstly, I express 甚

1) 甚 shén as pron.

a..甚=什么 what, example: 甚么=什么

b..甚=为什么 why, example: 甚地（怎么）

2）甚 shèn as adj

a..甚=过分 overdo, go too far， example: 欺人太甚

b..甚=盛，大 prevailing, great， example: 甚欢

3）甚 shèn as adv

a..甚=极端，非常 very, extremely， example: 甚贫

b..甚=超过，胜过 more than， example:甚于水火

Another, 什么 is "what", ask someone or somebody. Of course, 什么 is lots of meaning.

Using them according to the context.