Adding 什么(shénme) to the end of an adjective (or less frequently a verb) can be used to form a rhetorical question. In the phrase 你急什么?"what are you worried about?", the speaker is implying that there is no need to be worried.

Structure

Adjective/Verb + 什么 + (Adjective/Verb)

Examples

Jǐnzhānɡ shénme ā,nǐ bú shì shànɡ ɡuò hǎo jǐ cì wǔtái le mɑ?yīnɡɡāi zǎojiù xíɡuàn le bɑ。
1.紧张 什么 啊,你 不 是 上 过 好 几 次 舞台 了 吗?应该 早就 习惯 了 吧。
What are you nervous for? Haven't you been on stage a bunch of times? You should be used to it by now.

Yùmèn shénme yɑ,kàn kàn zhè lánlán detiānkōnɡ,lǜlǜ de tiányuán,shēnɡhuó duō méihǎo ā!
2. 郁闷 什么 呀,看 看 这 蓝蓝 的天空,绿绿 的 田园,生活 多 美好 啊!
Why so sad? Look at the blue sky, the green fields, life is so beautiful!

Nǐjí shénme jí,hái zǎo zhe ne。
3. 你急 什么 急,还 早 着 呢。
Why are you so anxious? It's still early.

Nǐkàn shénme kàn, méi jiàn ɡuò měi nǚ ā?
4. 你看 什么 看,没 见 过 美 女 啊?
What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a pretty girl before?