什么 shén me is used in rhetorical questions to convey a more contentious enquiry:
(a) Following an adjective:
你忙什么?
Nǐ máng shén me ?
What are you so busy with?
你急什么?
Nǐ jí shén me?
What are you so worried about?/ There is no hurry./There’s nothing to worry about.
这道题难什么?
Zhè dào tí nán shén me?
What’s so difficult about this question?
(b) Preceding a noun:
吃什么!
Chī shén me!
What do you mean (eat) fish?/What fish?
(implies ‘There isn’t any fish.’)
看什么电影!
Kàn shén me diàn yǐng !
There is no way you are going to the cinema!
摆什么架子!
Bǎi shén me jià zǐ!
You’ve got nothing to be proud of!/Don’t give yourself airs!
(c) After a verb:
你哭什么?
Nǐ kū shén me?
What are you crying for?
你嚷什么?
Nǐ rǎng shén me?
What are you shouting for?/What’s all the shouting about?
你埋怨什么?
Nǐ mái yuàn shén me?
What are you complaining about?/Why are you making such a fuss?
(d) With 有 yǒu idioms:
这有什么用?
Zhè yǒu shén me yòng ?
What’s the use of (doing) this?
这些书有什么意思?
Zhè xiē shū yǒu shén me yì sī ?
What’s so interesting about these books?
[1] Yip, P. C., Rimmington, D., Xiaoming, Z., & Henson, R. (2009). Basic Chinese: a grammar and workbook. Taylor & Francis.