zhège dōngxi shì shénme yàngzi?

In Mandarin, a demonstrative like 这 (this) usually needs a measure word before a noun:

• 这 + 个 + 东西
• that + classifier + thing

个 is the most common general measure word, so 这个东西 means this thing.

A native speaker may also say 这东西, especially in casual speech, but 这个东西 is very standard and clear for learners.

Here, 东西 means thing, object, or stuff.

It is a very common everyday word for an unspecified item:

• 这是什么东西？ = What is this thing?
• 我的东西 = my stuff / my things

Learners often notice that 东 means east and 西 means west, but in modern Mandarin 东西 as one word is a fixed vocabulary item meaning thing/stuff. In this sentence, you should treat it as a single word.

什么样子 means what kind of appearance, what shape, or what it looks like.

Breakdown:

• 什么 = what
• 样子 = appearance, look, shape, manner

So 是什么样子 literally means something like:

• is what appearance
• more natural English: what does it look like?

In this sentence, the question is asking about the thing’s appearance or form.

是 here links the subject to 什么样子.

Structure:

• 这个东西 = the thing being talked about
• 是 = is
• 什么样子 = what appearance / what it looks like

So the pattern is:

• A 是什么样子？
• What is A like in appearance?

This is a normal structure in Mandarin. Even though English might prefer What does this thing look like?, Mandarin often uses 是 in this kind of question.

Yes, it is understandable and grammatical, but in everyday spoken Mandarin, many native speakers would more naturally say:

• 这个东西长什么样子？
• or even more commonly: 这个东西长什么样？

That pattern with 长什么样 is especially common when asking what something looks like.

So:

• 这个东西是什么样子？ = correct, understandable
• 这个东西长什么样？ = more colloquial and common in speech

They are related, but not identical.

• 什么样子 focuses more on appearance/form
• 怎么样 can mean how, how is it, or what is it like in a broader sense

For example:

• 这个东西是什么样子？ = What does this thing look like?
• 这个东西怎么样？ = How is this thing? / What do you think of this thing?

So if you want to ask specifically about visual appearance, 什么样子 is the better choice.

Yes. 这东西 is a common casual shortening of 这个东西.

Compare:

• 这个东西是什么样子？ = a bit fuller, neutral
• 这东西是什么样子？ = more conversational

Both are correct. The shorter form is very common in spoken Mandarin.

Because those final syllables are often pronounced with a neutral tone in normal speech.

For example:

• 这个 = zhège
• 东西 = dōngxi
• 什么 = shénme
• 样子 = yàngzi

The neutral tone is lighter and shorter than the main tone of the word.

This is very common in Mandarin, especially in everyday words. A learner should pay attention to this because it helps your speech sound much more natural.

Not always. 样子 can mean:

• appearance
• shape
• look
• sometimes even manner or way something seems

Examples:

• 这个盒子是什么样子？ = asking about shape/appearance
• 他高兴的样子 = the way he looks when happy

In your sentence, it most naturally refers to the thing’s appearance or form.

Yes, you can. 这个东西是什么样子的？ is also grammatical.

Both forms exist:

• 这个东西是什么样子？
• 这个东西是什么样子的？

The version with 的 can sound a little more descriptive or slightly more complete in some contexts, but the difference is not huge here. In conversation, both are acceptable.

Also remember that in everyday speech, many people would still prefer:

• 这个东西长什么样？

The word order is:

• 这个东西 = subject/topic
• 是 = linking verb
• 什么样子 = question phrase

So literally it is:

• This thing is what appearance?

That may feel unusual to an English speaker, but it is a normal Mandarin way to ask about appearance.

A helpful pattern to remember is:

• A 是什么样子？
• What does A look like?

Once you learn that pattern, this sentence becomes much easier to understand.