How would you say "WTF?" in Chinese?

[Milkybar_Kid]

Hello,

 

This is a very common phrase in English, is there a Chinese equivalent?

 

For instance, if you came home one evening and found that a burglar had broken into your home, however they had left your valuables and only stolen a single shoe - how would express the feeling of WTF here in Chinese?

 

Thanks

[anonymoose]

什么鬼啊

[Mr John]

I always wondered how strong 鬼 was when used in certain contexts. Now I have confirmation. Thanks.

[kacycc]

how about "我了个去"

[歐博思]

Seeing "WTF" my first thought was also "什麼鬼“, but thinking again I've only ever heard this said a bit jocularly. So in this case I think the best way is just a solid: 

 

”艸！！！！！！！！！！！！“

 

 

Edit: I misread about the seriousness of the 'robbery'. I again think 什麼鬼 sounds good here.

[gato]

我靠！ kao = cao

[Demonic_Duck]

怎么鬼事？ (a stronger variant of “怎么回事？”)

[somethingfunny]

I don't agree that 什么鬼 really conveys the same intensity as "What the f**k?"

 

For me, 什么鬼 is more like "What's going on?" or "This doesn't make sense!"

 

My students would sometimes use 什么鬼 in class, as well as 我去 or 我靠 and you'd be hard-pressed to find an English classroom with kids saying "What the f**k?" when the teacher is talking about a difficult topic.

 

So, in terms of meaning, it's the same, but the English is different because it uses the f-word.  Maybe in that case 什么鬼 would be closer to "What the hell?"

[kacycc]

@somethingfunny.I agree with you about the f-word appointment,but 我靠 in Chinese is like f-word. It's root is 我靠/我草/我干/我操……你妈,it's just like fucking meaning of the WTF f-word part.And 我了个去 is developed from 我靠. In internet ,this word used currently.Its intensity is a bit less than 我靠,it is more gentle.

Hoping my words can help.

[Shelley]

As someone who avoids using the f word unless the situation really warrants it, I would say "what the.....?" and everybody knows what I mean.

 

Would the same sort of thing suffice in Chinese?

[davoosh]

Is the 了 in 我了個去 pronounced le4 with a full fourth tone? I've only heard this a few times and can't quite remember the tone. Does anyone know the origin of this saying?

[Demonic_Duck]

I'd say it's generally wò le ge qù (我 changed to fourth tone, everything else has standard phonetic values).

[davoosh]

Do you think wǒ has become wò just because it's an exclamatory expression, or is 'wò' an actual verb here that has a separate meaning?

[Shelley]

According to my little book "D!rty Chinese" it is

 

怎么回事

 

is "What the ?" or "WTF?"

 

That is exactly as it is written in the book

 

 

 

[kacycc]

You can say 我了个去 with a slow but forceful tone word for word.Generally speaking, when you say the phrase like 我……了……个……去！,people definitely understand you even if you don't need to complete the whole phrase.

[doggerel]

I am Cantonese.

Depending on the degree of anger or frustration I normally say 搞乜鬼 or 搞乜 (substitute any Cantonese word for Fxxx) 野！ 

While WTF is three a letter word, in three Chinese word I'd say 乜(substitute any Cantonese word for Fxxx)野！

[XiaoXi]

According to my little book "D!rty Chinese" it is

 

怎么回事

 

is "What the ?" or "WTF?"

 

That is exactly as it is written in the book

 

Its hard to find the same intensity swearword in Chinese. 怎么回事 is not very intense and can be said to a kid even. Look at the combinations suggested above and try to add 他妈的 in there to make them more offensive is my suggestion. It also depends on whether you mean it spoken alone or as part of a sentence, for example: WTF are you doing here? 你他妈的来干什么？WTF was all that about? 那他妈的是怎么回事？

[Lu]

怎么回事, is that even close to a swearword? It sounds to me like a question, albeit in a rather impolite tone. More like 'What's this?!' or 'What's going on here?!'

[Demonic_Duck]

It's obviously not profane, but I'd say it's the closest in actual meaning to "WTF?" (or "what the hell?", "what the heck?" if you want non-profane versions).

 

“这他妈怎么回事？” is a pretty good analogue for "WTF?", equivalent level of profanity included.

 

Also see my suggestion of “怎么鬼事” earlier.

[Kenny同志]

他媽的這叫甚麼事兒！

 

他媽的搞甚麼！

 

他媽的搞甚麼鬼！

 

他媽的搞甚麼飛機！

 

說髒話不好。

 

 

PS: You can also use 他娘的 in place of 他媽的.