What could 轰 be a contraction of to mean "what"? 轰 can be found in some dialects, often with a 个 found on the end, to mean what.

This is most definitely a contraction. (Similar dialects also feature a contraction of 哪 and 样 as 孃 niang, also meaning what.)

What could 轰 be a contraction of?

My best guess at the moment is that it is a contraction of something like 何 + 用, but that's a stab in the dark at best.



To answer @dan's questions in the comments:


  What dialects use it?


I believe it is, perhaps too specifically, part of 仁富小片.


  Do you have a specific example?


newssc [dot] org


  “我跟你们说嘛，轰个叫做乡愁……”
Not only in Sichuan. Some Anhui dialects use it too. Probably contracted from 何麽. 哪麽 contracted to be LANG in Chongqing.