Need translation for "what is this called"

[JimmySeal]

I want to know how to point to something and ask what it's called in Chinese. Can anyone supply me with a quick translation?

Thanks in advance.

[studentyoung]

I want to know how to point to something and ask what it's called in Chinese. Can anyone supply me with a quick translation?

You can say, “这个东西用中文怎么说？”

Thanks!

[JimmySeal]

Gosh that's long, but thanks. Two questions:

Would 这个 be pronounced zhe4 ge, zhei4 ge, or something else.

Is 说 pronounced shuo1 here?

[gougou]

You can shorten it to 这个怎么说？

这个 usually is pronounced zhei4ge, 说 in this sentence is shuo1.

[JimmySeal]

Awesome. Thanks studentyoung and gougou.

[johnd]

Is it correct to say 这个叫什么? I've been saying that, but not sure if it's just my Englese.

[dotherighthing]

Hi, Johnd, "这个叫什么"　actually is more oralised expression, if I met you, you said that to me, I would say" you speak quite good Chinese". ( not Englese at all)

Chinese is very flexible, so all of these expressions are proper and correct.

[adrianlondon]

In my opinion ...

这个怎么说 is more like "how do you say that?" and the listener will infer that you're learning Chinese and want to know the correct word.

这个叫什么 is more like "what's that?" and the listener will infer that you've no idea what you're looking at. Although that might be better translated as 这个是什么

I'm a mandarin learner too, so please someone correct me where apprporiate!

[trien27]

adrianlondon, you are correct:

怎么? = "How?"

什么? = "What?"

[mr.stinky]

wouldn't 这/那是什么？ be sufficient?

(ah,adrian also added this.oops)

[skylee]

For "what is this called", I would say "這個叫甚麽?" "這 / 那是甚麽?" would also do. But it means "what is this / that?" IMHO there is not a great big difference between the two questions.