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The set phrase “什么的”

“什么的” (shénme de) comes at the end of a list and means “and things like that”, “and so on”.

Basic structure

…… + 什么的
Meaning: “… and things like that” “… and so on”

Examples

(Huà)()(men)(de)(jiā)(Yǒu)()(ba)()(ma)()(di)(hái)(yǒu)(hēi)()(de)(gǒu)(bái)()(de)(māo)(shén)(me)(de)
I'll draw our home! With Dad, Mom, my little brother, and the black dog, the white cat and so on.
黑色的狗、白色的猫 + 什么的 the black dog, the white cat + and so on
()(ba)()(ma)()(di)Dad, Mom, little brother
(hēi)()(de)(gǒu)the black dog
(bái)()(de)(māo)the white cat
(shén)(me)(de)and things like that
(Zhuō)(zi)(shàng)(yǒu)(diàn)(nǎo)(bēi)(zi)(shū)()(huà)()(shén)(me)(de)
On the table there's a computer, a cup, books, paintbrushes and so on.
电脑、杯子、书和画笔 + 什么的 computer, cup, books and brushes + and so on
(zhuō)(zi)(shàng)on the table
(diàn)(nǎo)computer
(bēi)(zi)cup
(shū)book
(huà)()paintbrush
(shén)(me)(de)and things like that
()()(lái)(le)()(xiē)(shuǐ)(miàn)(bāo)()(píng)(guǒ)(shén)(me)(de)
She brought some water, bread, apples and so on.
水、面包和苹果 + 什么的 water, bread and apples + and so on
()she
()(lái)(le)brought
()(xiē)some
(shuǐ)water
(miàn)(bāo)bread
(píng)(guǒ)apple
(shén)(me)(de)and things like that

Quick rule

A list + 什么的

Meaning: besides the items named, there are others of the same kind.

狗、猫什么的 — dogs, cats and the like 电脑、杯子、书什么的 — computer, cup, books and so on 水、面包、苹果什么的 — water, bread, apples and so on