How to Say “And So On” with 什么的 (shénme de)
什么的 (shénme de) is the casual “and so on / and stuff like that” that closes an open-ended list: 牛奶、鸡蛋什么的 (“milk, eggs, and so on”). You tack it onto the end once it's clear what kind of things you mean, even after a single item (喝点茶什么的, “some tea or something”). It's friendly and spoken, where 等 is the neutral “etc.”
Why this trips learners up
When you reel off a few examples and want to leave the list open with “and so on” or “and stuff like that,” Chinese tacks 什么的 (shénme de) onto the end. The shape is simple: item, item (, item) + 什么的. 牛奶、鸡蛋什么的 (“milk, eggs, and so on”), 跑步、游泳什么的 (“running, swimming, and the like”). You reach for it when the listener can already tell what class of things you mean, so you don't need to spell the whole list out.
The items don't have to be nouns. 什么的 happily closes a list of verb phrases too: 放假的时候我就睡觉、打游戏什么的 (“on holidays I just sleep, play games, and so on”). It even works after a single item, when what might follow is obvious enough: 你要不要喝点茶什么的? (“do you want some tea or something?”). And a fronted list often gets picked up by 都: 苹果、香蕉什么的，我都爱吃 (“apples, bananas, and so on, I love them all”).
Two things to keep straight. First, 什么的 always sits at the end, trailing the list from behind; it can't lead it or hang off each item. Second, don't confuse the list-ender 什么的 with the bare question word 什么 (“what?”). 你喜欢吃什么? asks “what do you like to eat?”, while 你喜欢吃米饭、面条什么的 says “you like rice, noodles, and so on.” The 的 changes everything.
One note on tone: 什么的 is relaxed and conversational, perfect for chatting about food, hobbies and errands. After a list of people's names, though, it can sound a little dismissive, so the neutral 等 (“etc.”) is the polite choice there: 张老师、王老师等都来了 (“Teacher Zhang, Teacher Wang, etc. all came”). Same listing job, more formal feel.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
bīngxiāng lǐ 冰箱里 Place yǒu 有 Verb niúnǎi 牛奶 Object jīdàn 鸡蛋 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern
There's milk, eggs, and so on in the fridge (a two-noun list + 什么的).
nǐ 你 Subject yào bu yào 要不要 Function word hē 喝 Verb diǎn 点 Measure word chá 茶 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern
Do you want some tea or something? (什么的 after a single item).
fàngjià de shíhou 放假的时候 Time wǒ 我 Subject jiù 就 Adverb shuìjiào 睡觉 Verb dǎ yóuxì 打游戏 Verb shénme de 什么的 Pattern
On holidays I just sleep, play games, and so on (a list of verb phrases).
píngguǒ 苹果 Object xiāngjiāo 香蕉 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject dōu 都 Adverb ài 爱 Verb chī 吃 Verb
Apples, bananas, and so on, I love them all (a fronted list picked up by 都).
wǒ 我 Subject qù 去 Verb chāoshì 超市 Place mǎi 买 Verb diǎn 点 Measure word jiàngyóu 酱油 Object yán 盐 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern
I'm going to the supermarket to buy some soy sauce, salt, and so on (an errand list).
tā 她 Subject píngshí 平时 Time xǐhuan 喜欢 Verb huàhuà 画画 Verb xiězì 写字 Verb shénme de 什么的 Pattern
She usually likes painting, calligraphy, and so on (hobbies as a verb list).
bānjiā 搬家 Verb yào 要 Function word zhǔnbèi 准备 Verb de 的 Function word dōngxi 东西 Object hěn duō 很多 Adjective xiāngzi 箱子 Object jiāodài 胶带 Object shéngzi 绳子 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern
There's a lot to prepare when moving: boxes, tape, rope, and so on (a longer three-item list).
tā 他 Subject duì 对 Verb lìshǐ 历史 Object dìlǐ 地理 Object shénme de 什么的 Pattern tèbié 特别 Adverb gǎn xìngqù 感兴趣 Verb
He's especially interested in history, geography, and so on (什么的 mid-sentence, inside 对…感兴趣).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 什么的 closes the list from behind, so it goes at the end, not in front of the items: 我买了水果、零食什么的 (“I bought fruit, snacks, and so on”), not 我买了什么的水果、零食.
Why it happens: After a list of people's names, 什么的 can sound dismissive. Use the neutral 等 (“etc.”) instead: 张老师、王老师等都参加了会议 (“Teacher Zhang, Teacher Wang, etc. all attended”), not …什么的.
Why it happens: 什么的 (“and so on”) is not the question word 什么 (“what?”). 你喜欢吃什么? asks “what do you like to eat?”; only after a real list does the 的 make sense: 你喜欢吃米饭、面条什么的.
Compare & contrast
| 什么的 (informal “and so on”, casual speech) | 等 / 等等 (neutral “etc.”, writing and names) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我们聊聊工作、生活什么的。wǒmen liáoliao gōngzuò, shēnghuó shénme de. | 报告分析了销售、成本等数据。bàogào fēnxī le xiāoshòu, chéngběn děng shùjù. | 我们聊聊工作、生活什么的 is friends chatting, “let's talk about work, life, and so on,” relaxed and spoken. 报告分析了销售、成本等数据 is a written report, “the report analysed sales, cost, and other data,” where the formal 等 fits. |
| 买点零食、饮料什么的。mǎi diǎn língshí, yǐnliào shénme de. | 与会者有王教授、李博士等。yùhuìzhě yǒu Wáng jiàoshòu, Lǐ bóshì děng. | 买点零食、饮料什么的 (“grab some snacks, drinks, and so on”) is everyday and casual. 与会者有王教授、李博士等 (“attendees included Professor Wang, Dr Li, etc.”) lists people with titles, so 等 keeps it respectful. |
Try it yourself
Say “Have some coffee or something.” End with 什么的.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “And So On” with 什么的 (shénme de) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.