<p>Most often, I would repeat 这是, so if you would ask me 这是什么? I would say 这是一本书. You can also say 一本书. But you can also just say 书.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-16T19:16:55.660Z
Okay. I usually do, too. But...are you a native speaker? I am trying to get the best "native" answer, so that matters, too. Thank you!
Keili Rae
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-16T19:21:16.400Z
And could you/would you say "这是书"?
Keili Rae
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-16T17:56:19.967Z
2012-09-12T18:29:27.493Z
2012-09-12T18:29:27.493Z
BertR
<p>I'm a native speaker. I will just say "书" in most cases. However, the way to answer depends on the situation. It's OK to say "书" between friends, relatives, and colleagues, etc. But when the question is from a senior or respected person, simple answer like "书" could make him/her feel that you are indifferent. In these situation, we will usually elaborate the answer a little bit, such as adding a very brief description about what sort of book it is.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T23:29:23.007Z
2012-09-12T23:29:23.007Z
nfang
<p>I am a native speaker, so I can tell you that the most natural answer is "书". Of course, as you know, both are right. But in native Chinese, if you answer the question of "what", no matter only one object or more, you don't need to express numerals.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-20T08:04:14.747Z
2012-08-20T11:33:43.820Z
2012-08-20T11:33:43.820Z
Charles
<p>Just 书 is enough. This is the most natural to answer such a question, and no need to say more.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:26:30.197Z
"natural way to answer suah a question"
Chenhao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:29:56.993Z
Actually there is a need to say more, but in your answer. Can you improve it? Read [How to answer](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/how-to-answer) to help you.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:42:30.730Z
In fact, in daily conversations native speakers like me just say a noun to answer such a question.
Chenhao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:43:49.323Z
That's irrelevant, explain why it's the most natural way, add detail and context. As is your answer is rather poor.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:49:02.170Z
If you are looking for a complete answer, you should say "这是一本书（this is a book). But usually just 书 can provide enough information, so we just answer like this for conciseness
Chenhao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:51:28.487Z
Like you have no need to say "this is a book" to answer "what's this", you may just say "a book", it's just language habits.
Chenhao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:53:00.637Z
That is an explanation you could have added to your answer. Please do it. When you're answering, one-liners are not that helpful. Always try to expand adding explanations, comparisons, anything that will help increase the quality of your answer.
Alenanno
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:57:17.477Z
Yep now I got it.
Chenhao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-12T16:25:50.103Z
2012-09-12T16:25:50.103Z
Chenhao
<p>In English, if someone points to a book and says "What's that?", "A book" is a sufficient reply. In Chinese, if someone points to a book and says "这是什么？", can you say "书" or maybe "一本书"? What's the most natural and conversational response?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-18T00:30:30.447Z
Welcome to the site. An upvote to get you started.
Tom Au
<word-choice>
What's an appropriate conversational response to 这是什么？
# What's an appropriate conversational response to 这是什么？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-08-16)

In English, if someone points to a book and says "What's that?", "A book" is a sufficient reply. In Chinese, if someone points to a book and says "这是什么？", can you say "书" or maybe "一本书"? What's the most natural and conversational response?

**Tags:** word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome to the site. An upvote to get you started.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-08-16. Score: 4

Most often, I would repeat 这是, so if you would ask me 这是什么? I would say 这是一本书. You can also say 一本书. But you can also just say 书.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Okay. I usually do, too. But...are you a native speaker? I am trying to get the best "native" answer, so that matters, too. Thank you!  
> **username_0**: And could you/would you say "这是书"?  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-09-12. Score: 2

I'm a native speaker. I will just say "书" in most cases. However, the way to answer depends on the situation. It's OK to say "书" between friends, relatives, and colleagues, etc. But when the question is from a senior or respected person, simple answer like "书" could make him/her feel that you are indifferent. In these situation, we will usually elaborate the answer a little bit, such as adding a very brief description about what sort of book it is.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-08-20. Score: 2

I am a native speaker, so I can tell you that the most natural answer is "书". Of course, as you know, both are right. But in native Chinese, if you answer the question of "what", no matter only one object or more, you don't need to express numerals.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-09-12. Score: -1

Just 书 is enough. This is the most natural to answer such a question, and no need to say more.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: "natural way to answer suah a question"  
> **username_6**: Actually there is a need to say more, but in your answer. Can you improve it? Read [How to answer](http://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/how-to-answer) to help you.  
> **username_5**: In fact, in daily conversations native speakers like me just say a noun to answer such a question.  
> **username_6**: That's irrelevant, explain why it's the most natural way, add detail and context. As is your answer is rather poor.  
> **username_5**: If you are looking for a complete answer, you should say "这是一本书（this is a book). But usually just 书 can provide enough information, so we just answer like this for conciseness  
> **username_5**: Like you have no need to say "this is a book" to answer "what's this", you may just say "a book", it's just language habits.  
> **username_6**: That is an explanation you could have added to your answer. Please do it. When you're answering, one-liners are not that helpful. Always try to expand adding explanations, comparisons, anything that will help increase the quality of your answer.  
> **username_5**: Yep now I got it.  

---

