<p>凭 is a coverb meaning "based on." If you're looking for a Chinese meaning, my dictionary defines it as 根据 (i.e. based on, according to). In the example you gave, 凭什么 can be understood as "on what basis?", which is only a short jump to "why?"</p>

<p>凭 is commonly used with the word 票, as in:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>凭票入场<br>
  Admission by ticket only.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>Edit:</strong> As ziyuang helpfully points out, 凭什么 has a somewhat accusatory tone and implies that the action in question is unwarranted. (That's how "on what basis?" sounds to me in English, but it may not have that sense for everyone.)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-28T03:06:25.497Z
Actually "凭什么" has a tone of questioning, implying there is no basis of your rival, and thus similar to "how dare you?"
Ziyuan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-28T05:33:07.430Z
A fair point; the English "on what basis" has the same connotation.
Alf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-28T05:34:28.397Z
Good, learned something here.
Ziyuan
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2012-01-28T15:02:41.700Z
-1 @Jon I think the nuance here suggested by ziyuang is missing from your answer... add it maybe?
magnetar
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2012-01-28T19:15:04.653Z
@magnetar: good suggestion, done.
Alf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-28T02:45:51.170Z
2012-01-28T19:14:54.293Z
2012-01-28T19:14:54.293Z
Alf
<p>"凭什么”has a tone of questioning and a little bit angry,its similar to "by what".For example:"你！凭什么左右我的心情！"means"You! By what can you control my feelings".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-01-28T16:25:22.370Z
2012-01-28T16:25:22.370Z
grace
<p>"凭什么” is something similar to "who do you think you are to say i can't do it?" or "you're not qualified to judge me"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-18T09:18:58.477Z
2014-07-18T09:18:58.477Z
tsohtan
<p>I was watching a TV show and heard them using the expression 凭什么 to say 'why' - I hadn't heard this with this exact meaning before, so I'm wondering what the proper meaning is in English, and what the proper meaning is in Mandarin?</p>

<mandarin><usage><meaning>
What is the meaning and proper usage of 凭什么？
# What is the meaning and proper usage of 凭什么？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-01-28)

I was watching a TV show and heard them using the expression 凭什么 to say 'why' - I hadn't heard this with this exact meaning before, so I'm wondering what the proper meaning is in English, and what the proper meaning is in Mandarin?

**Tags:** mandarin, usage, meaning


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-07-18. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

"凭什么” is something similar to "who do you think you are to say i can't do it?" or "you're not qualified to judge me"


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### Answer by username_1 on 2012-01-28. Score: 3

凭 is a coverb meaning "based on." If you're looking for a Chinese meaning, my dictionary defines it as 根据 (i.e. based on, according to). In the example you gave, 凭什么 can be understood as "on what basis?", which is only a short jump to "why?"

凭 is commonly used with the word 票, as in:

> 凭票入场  
> Admission by ticket only.

**Edit:** As ziyuang helpfully points out, 凭什么 has a somewhat accusatory tone and implies that the action in question is unwarranted. (That's how "on what basis?" sounds to me in English, but it may not have that sense for everyone.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Actually "凭什么" has a tone of questioning, implying there is no basis of your rival, and thus similar to "how dare you?"  
> **username_1**: A fair point; the English "on what basis" has the same connotation.  
> **username_2**: Good, learned something here.  
> **username_3**: -1 @Jon I think the nuance here suggested by ziyuang is missing from your answer... add it maybe?  
> **username_1**: @username_3: good suggestion, done.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2012-01-28. Score: 2

"凭什么”has a tone of questioning and a little bit angry,its similar to "by what".For example:"你！凭什么左右我的心情！"means"You! By what can you control my feelings".


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