Word Guide
How to pronounce 什么 (shén me)
什么 means "what". Use this guide to lock in the tone pattern, articulation target, and the mistake most learners still make.
Pinyin
shén me
Tone Pattern
Tone 2 + Tone 5
Pronunciation Focus
retroflex-basics
How to say it
Keep the retroflex initials in 什么 (shén me) slightly curled back instead of letting them flatten forward.
Most common error
Learners often flatten the retroflex portion and lose the darker, farther-back quality.
HSK Level
HSK1
Related pronunciation rules
How to pronounce zh, ch, sh, and r in Chinese
A practical guide to Mandarin retroflex initials with tongue position tips, common substitutions, and sample words.
z, c, s vs zh, ch, sh: how to hear and pronounce the difference
Learn the contrast between flat alveolar sounds and retroflex sounds so Chinese words stop collapsing into one pattern.
Practice similar examples
Hear the same pattern in sentences
他是老师。 (tā shì lǎo shī.)
The key target is the final shī, which should stay retroflex and narrow.
他吃了。 (tā chī le.)
Keep the retroflex initials in 他吃了。 (tā chī le.) slightly curled back instead of letting them flatten forward.
他出去。 (tā chū qù.)
Keep the retroflex initials in 他出去。 (tā chū qù.) slightly curled back instead of letting them flatten forward.