how about; what kind of; rather than
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 6 examplespronoun
how about it; what do you think
literaryUsed in classical or literary Chinese to ask for an opinion or evaluation.
Nǐ你
bù不
fáng妨
xiān先
shì试
shi试
，
hé何
rú如
？
Why don't you try it first—what do you think?
Zhè这
gè个
zhǔ主
yi意
shèn甚
hǎo好
，
hé何
rú如
？
This idea is excellent, how about it?
pronoun
what kind of; what sort of
literaryInterrogative pronoun used attributively before nouns in literary contexts.
Wǒ我
hái还
bù不
qīng清
chu楚
tā他
shì是
hé何
rú如
rén人
。
I still don't know what kind of person he is.
Cǐ此
nǎi乃
hé何
rú如
shì事
yě也
？
What kind of matter is this?
conjunction
wouldn't it be better to; rather than
literaryUsed in rhetorical questions to suggest that one alternative is preferable to another. Often preceded by 与其.
Yǔ与
qí其
zuò坐
yǐ以
dài待
bì毙
，
hé何
rú如
qǐ起
ér而
zhěng拯
zhī之
？
Rather than sitting and waiting for death, wouldn't it be better to rise up and save the situation?
Yǔ与
qí其
qiú求
rén人
，
hé何
rú如
qiú求
jǐ己
？
Rather than asking others, wouldn't it be better to rely on oneself?