干吗呢这是

[Tulee]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone know what 干吗呢这是 means?

It is used when someone was dancing around in the living room, and then his mother came in and said this phrase.

Thanks

[skylee]

What is this for? -> Why are you doing this? (likely expressing dissatisfaction) If you rearrange the sentence by putting the last two characters at the start you will see .

[Iron John]

When people says "干吗呢这是", they are probably expressing their confusion about what you are doing, or, dissatisfaction (it depends on the tone).

And sometimes, they just want to say "hi, what's up".

[shinewind]

this is an interesting one and in addition to #2 and #3 (which are correct BTW) I know that it can also mean: "What do you want?" or simply "what the hell?" (i prefer this one...)This phrase is mainly used by northen Chinese. I am sure it can mean more with appropriate context but I am lazy and I want to stop thinking.

[shinewind]

Oh my, I suddenly saw you already provided context up there. I think his mother was actually asking "what are you doing here?"

[yialanliu]

Just wanted to clear this up since I thought Skylee did a good job of saying it:

It's 这是干吗呢。 The version posted by the OP is not correct and it was a good correction to make.

Next, like Skylee said, there really is only 1 correct translation "What is this for? -> Why are you doing this? (likely expressing dissatisfaction)"

What's up is using only part of the phrase.

干吗呢？ But even that is rarely used for what's up as the main usage is still "What is this for? -> Why are you doing this? (likely expressing dissatisfaction)"

We would use 干什么呢？more frequently for what's up. In the South (Wu Chinese), we'd use "gan sha ne?"

However, the moment you add 这是 it changes the meaning completely to tone negative from tone neutral or maybe slightly tone negative.

[skylee]

The version posted by the OP is not correct and it was a good correction to make.

I wouldn't say it is not correct. It is very flexible when we speak, and it is not unusual that we change the order of the words when we speak. And if the sentence means to reflect what the mother says then it is fine. If we only learn the "correct" versions we might find it difficult to read forums in Chinese, where people write whatever they feel like as if there are no rules at all.

[shinewind]

Sorry but I can't agree with #6, especially this part about "干啥呢" usage in South. Wu people almost never say that. 啥 is a typical northen word and sometimes it is pronounced as"干哈呢？" Southern people use“什么” as its substitute.

Besides, the translation suggested by skylee is just a possible one, not the only one. like I said context or tone or both could change the translation completely.

My perception is that Chinese is too flexible to be defined in such a narrow way. There is always another level.

[anonymoose]

The version posted by the OP is not correct

What do you mean "not correct"? It's not formal, but phrases such as this are very normal in standard Chinese.

In the South (Wu Chinese), we'd use "gan sha ne?"

Are you sure about this? I've been in Shanghai for several years, and I can't say I ever remember anyone saying this (although maybe I just haven't been paying enough attention). I was under the impression that 干啥呢 was more a northern thing. Anyway, if speaking Shanghainese, people would say 做啥啦, or in Mandarin 干嘛呢 is very common.

[imron]

In the South (Wu Chinese), we'd use "gan sha ne?"

Wu people almost never say that. 啥 is a typical northen word and sometimes it is pronounced as"干哈呢？

This was discussed in a previous thread, although nothing conclusive was reached (the character has been around since pre-Qin).

I also lean more towards this being a northern thing though, not only because you hear it a lot in the north, but also because 怎么 conforms to a corresponding transformation e.g. 什么 -> 啥， 怎么 -> 咋

[shinewind]

#9

You are right about Shanghainese and their “做啥” expression，except that it is not really "做啥"，it is "ZU1 SA4". You can hardly find “卷舌音” in South dialect and 啥 is a 卷舌音.

[anonymoose]

You are right about Shanghainese and their “做啥” expression，except that it is not really "做啥"，it is "ZU1 SA4". You can hardly find “卷舌音” in South dialect and 啥 is a 卷舌音.

I didn't say anything about pronunciation. 做啥 is exactly what Shanghainese people say (with Shanghainese pronunciation, of course).

[yialanliu]

Okay for the people who don't get it, I used pinyin to spell the right character that is pronounced differently. As was mentioned, 啥 is correct and in Shanghai you would pronounce it as sa.

So let me respell and say "gan sha ne" is the southern wu version if you spell it with pinyin. When you say it phonetically, it's probably closer to "gan sa nia"

Also I think we use it very often. And I can think of tons of phrases that use it in my daily use.

wei sha for wei shenme is something that comes to my mind

sha ren (who)

sha shihou (when)

sha difang (where)

I cannot speak for it being a nrothern thing but I can say in Shanghainese you use it all the time. I use it at least 3-5 times a day when speaking with my family (I am Shanghainese).

[anonymoose]

So let me respell and say "gan sha ne" is the southern wu version if you spell it with pinyin. When you say it phonetically, it's probably closer to "gan sa nia"

I don't think Shanghainese uses 干.

wei sha for wei shenme is something that comes to my mind

sha ren (who)

sha shihou (when)

sha difang (where)

Shanghainese does not use 啥时候 for when. It should be 啥辰光.

I don't know what dialect of Wu you speak with your family, but it is certainly not the regular Shanghainese spoken in modern-day Shanghai.

[yialanliu]

Considering I said I am Shanghainese it should be obvious.

With regards to 啥辰光 yes you are right, however, Shanghainese now uses the version I use pretty frequently as well. This is due in part to losing some of the special words due to the younger generation(my generation) "dialecting" words they know rather than compelte replacement at times. That is the modern day version of shanghainese, not what you are correcting me on. what you say is very correct, just not modern. This is also why in Ningbo, Ningbo people can understand Shanghainese but Shanghai people have a harder time because of the number of replacements used is now much less in Shanghai than Ningbo.

Anyways, that wasn't my main point. My main point was 啥 is used in Shanghai very frequently and is not exclusive to the North.

[shinewind]

@# I2 I AGREE.

@15:

I think it will be much easier if you just admit you have a typo.

This is what you post up there and it is obviously misleading:

------------------------------------------

We would use 干什么呢？more frequently for what's up. In the South (Wu Chinese), we'd use "gan sha ne?"

___________________________________

If you are Shanghainese you should know one thing clearly - They’ll never use the combination of”干啥呢". Even if there are people who say that (you say your family do), it is barely a fact. How could it be an example for the whole South (or Wu, as you put it).

[yialanliu]

I am Shanghainese, not if. I know what I use.

Normally, I'd reply and explain but not with that attitude.

[xiaocai]

As if anyone cares.

[imron]

There are always people who care

[dannie]

Do note that by right, the structure of this phrase is wrong but it is commonly used by many locals in china.