How do you say shenme (什麼) in Cantonese?

In Cantonese, 什麼 is 乜嘢 (mat1 je5), often shortened to 咩 (me1) in everyday speech. 咩嘢 (me1 je5) is a common blend of the two. All three mean what.

How do you say why (為什麼) in Cantonese?

Use 點解 (dim2 gaai2), the neutral word for why. 做咩 (zou6 me1) or 做乜 (zou6 mat1) also mean why or what for, and often sound more pointed or annoyed, as in 你做咩唔嚟? (why didn't you come?).

How do you say what is this in Cantonese?

呢個係乜嘢? (ni1 go3 hai6 mat1 je5) or, more casually, 呢個係咩嚟㗎? (ni1 go3 hai6 me1 lai4 gaa3). Mandarin 這是什麼 becomes 呢個係乜嘢: 這 turns into 呢個, 是 into 係, and 什麼 into 乜嘢.

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How to say shénme (什麼) in Cantonese?

In Cantonese, 什麼 is 乜嘢 (mat1 je5), often shortened to 咩 (me1). This is one of the words where Cantonese does not just re-read the Mandarin characters: 什麼 does exist in written Chinese (read sam6 mo1), but nobody says it in conversation. Swap in 乜嘢 or 咩 and you sound local straight away. Why is a separate word again, 點解 (dim2 gaai2). Paste pinyin into the pinyin converter to check the Mandarin side.

If you'd say (Mandarin)	Say (Cantonese)	Notes
什麼 shénme (what)	乜嘢 mat1 je5	The full form; fine anywhere in speech
什麼 shénme (what, casual)	咩 me1 / 咩嘢 me1 je5	What most people actually say day to day
為什麼 wèishénme (why)	點解 dim2 gaai2	The neutral why; a different word, not a re-reading
幹什麼 gàn shénme (what for, why)	做咩 zou6 me1 / 做乜 zou6 mat1	Also "why", but sharper; can sound annoyed
這是什麼 zhè shì shénme (what is this)	呢個係乜嘢 ni1 go3 hai6 mat1 je5	Three swaps at once: 這→呢個, 是→係, 什麼→乜嘢
什麼事 shénme shì (what's the matter)	乜事 mat1 si6 / 咩事 me1 si6	"What's up?" or "what happened?"

Scenarios

Situation	Say	Why
Pointing at a dish on the menu	呢個係咩嚟㗎?	"What is this (thing)?" The 嚟㗎 ending is how locals ask what something is
Didn't catch what someone said	咩話? / 咩呀?	"Say what?" Quick and normal; add a soft tone with friends
Asking someone's name	你叫咩名呀?	"What are you called?" Literally you + called + what + name
Asking the reason, politely	點解呀?	Neutral why; safe with anyone
Annoyed that a friend didn't show	你做咩唔嚟?	"Why didn't you come?" with an edge; 點解 would sound calmer
Someone looks upset	乜事呀? / 咩事呀?	"What's wrong?" The everyday check-in

Variations

咩 as a sentence-final particle: 你唔鍾意食辣咩? means "You don't like spicy food?" with surprise. It is not the neutral yes/no question; for that, Cantonese usually repeats the verb with 唔 (係唔係, 去唔去), or uses 嗎 (maa3) in more formal speech.
乜 alone also works as "what" in set phrases: 乜事 (what's up), 乜誰 (so-and-so, who).
做乜嘢 can mean "why" or literally "doing what": 你做緊乜嘢? is "What are you doing?" (see 咗 vs 緊).
How, the other question word: Mandarin 怎麼 is 點 or 點樣 (dim2 joeng2) in Cantonese, so 點解 and 點樣 are cousins.
Where and who come from a different family, 邊: see 哪裡 in Cantonese.

The mistake to avoid

Saying 什麼 with a Cantonese reading (sam6 mo1) in conversation. It is a real reading, used when reading Mandarin-style text aloud, but in speech it marks you as someone translating word by word. Say 乜嘢 or 咩. Second slip: tacking 咩 onto the end of every question because it sounds like Mandarin 嗎. Final 咩 carries surprise or doubt ("Really? You don't...?"), so 你係學生咩? sounds like you can't believe they're a student. For a plain question, 你係唔係學生呀? is safer.

More Mandarin-to-Cantonese swaps on the Mandarin to Cantonese hub; related guides: 哪裡 in Cantonese, 你好 in Cantonese, 係 vs 喺, 呢個 vs 嗰個; more answers on the FAQ page.

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