- interrogative pronoun asking for information specifying something询问有关明确说明某事物的情况什么：
what is your name?
你叫什么名字？
I'm not sure what you mean.
我不太清楚你指的是什么。
- asking for repetition of something not heard or confirmation of something not understood请求重复或确认什么：
what? I can't hear you
你说什么？我听不见你的话
you did what?
你做了什么？
- relative pronoun the thing or things that (used in specifying something)用于指明某事物所…的事物：
what we need is a commitment.
我们所需要的是一个承诺。
- (referring to the whole of an amount) whatever指数量的全部无论什么, 不管什么; 凡是…的东西：
I want to do what I can to make a difference.
我想尽我所能起点作用。
- (in exclamations) emphasizing something surprising or remarkable用于感叹句多少：
what some people do for a crust!
有的人为了糊口不知做了多少事啊！
- interrogative determiner asking for information specifying something询问有关明确说明某事物的情况什么; 什么样的：
what time is it?
现在几点钟？
do you know what excuse he gave me?
你知道他对我找了什么借口吗？
- relative determiner(referring to the whole of an amount) whatever指数量的全部所…的; …那样的; 尽量多的：
he had been robbed of what little money he had.
他仅有的一点钱已被抢走了。
- (in exclamations) how great or remarkable用于感叹多么的, 何等的：
as determiner what luck!多好的运气啊！
as predeterminer what a fool she was.她真傻。
- to what extent到何种程度：
what does it matter?
这有什么关系？
- used to indicate an estimate or approximation［表示估计数或近似值］左右, 约略：
see you, what, about four?
我与你4点钟左右再见面, 可以吗？
- informal, dated used for emphasis or to invite agreement〈非正式, 旧〉［用于强调或取得同意］是吧：
pretty poor show, what?
相当拙劣的表演, 是吧？
and（或or）what have you
- informal and/or anything else similar〈非正式〉诸如此类, 等等：
for a binder try soup, gravy, cream, or what have you.
可以试试用汤、肉汁、奶油和其他类似的东西来勾芡。
and what not
- informal and other similar things〈非正式〉诸如此类, 等等。
give someone what for
- 见GIVE.
what about -?
- used when asking for information or an opinion on something用于询问情况或征求意见时…怎么样？：
what about the practical angle?
从实用的角度看怎么样？
- used to make a suggestion用于提出建议…怎么样？：
what about a walk?
去散散步怎么样？
what-d'you-call-it（或what's-its name）
- informal used as a substitute for a name not recalled〈非正式〉某某东西, 名叫某某的东西（用以指代记不起的东西的名称）。
what for?
- informal for what reason?〈非正式〉为什么。
what if -?
- what would result if -?如果…将会怎样：
what if nobody shows up?
如果没人到场将会怎样？
- what does it matter if -?即使…又有什么关系：
what if our house is a mess? I'm clean.
即使我们的房子乱七八糟又有何妨？我的身上不是很干净的嘛。
what is more
- and as an additional point; moreover而且, 加之。
what next
- 见NEXT.
what of -?
- what is the news concerning -?…的情况怎么样：
what of it? why should that be considered significant?
那又怎么样？
what's-his（或-its）-name
- another term for what-d'you-call-it.同what-d'you-call-it.
what say -?
- used to make a suggestion用于提出建议（…）你看行吗, （…）你说怎么样：
what say we call a tea break?
我们喝点茶休息一下, 你说怎么样？
what's what
- informal what is useful or important〈非正式〉有用（或重要）的东西：
I'll teach her what's what.
我将教她有用的东西。
what with
- because of (used typically to introduce several causes of something)［常用于引导多个原因］因为, 由于：
what with the drought and the neglect, the garden is in a sad condition.
由于干旱和疏于管理, 花园的情况十分糟糕。