那是什么？

Learning Chinese: How to Ask "What is that?" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 那是什么？
Pinyin: Nà shì shénme?
Pronunciation: na4 shi4 shen2 me5
English Translation: What is that?

Usage:

"那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)" is a common question used to ask about something that you don't know or understand. It can be used in both formal and informal settings.

Example:

Chinese: 这是什么？
Pinyin: Zhè shì shénme?
English: What is this?

Variations:

There are a few variations of "那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)" that you may hear:

这是什么？ (Zhè shì shénme?): A more specific way to ask about something that is present.
那是什么东西？ (Nà shì shénme dōngxī?): A more informal way to ask about something, literally meaning "what is that thing?"
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers asking "what is that?" to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"那是什么？ (Nà shì shénme?)" is typically used when you are asking about something that you see or experience directly.
To ask about something that you have heard or read about, you can use the question "这是什么意思？ (Zhè shì shénme yìsi?)", which means "what does this mean?"
In some regions of China, people may also use "啥玩意儿 (shai4 wan4r?)" to ask "what is that?" in a more informal way.