USING 怎么 WITH VERBS The question word 怎么 (zěnme) is used to ask “ how ” in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that’s being asked about: (Subject) + 怎么 + Verb + (Object)？ If the subject refers to “you”, it can be omitted : The object doesn’t have to come after the verb. Sometimes it moves to the front of the question. Topic (Object) + 怎么 + Verb? The question word 怎么 (zěnme) can also used to ask “ why ” in Chinese, which is similar to the question word 为什么 (wèishénme)。 Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ? BONUS // 不怎么 and 没怎么 When 不怎么 is used with a verb, it means that one does not put a lot of time or energy into doing it. In other words, the action is done “ not often ”. Subject + 不怎么 + Verb When 没怎么 is used with a verb, it means that one did not do the action with much time or energy. That verb uses or implies 有 and thus it uses the same the 有 negation rules. Subject + 没怎么 + Verb USING 怎么 WITH ADJECTIVES 怎么 with adjectives is most common to negate the adjective after 怎么。 Subject +怎么 (+不) + Adjective 怎么 (zěnme) frequently appears with 这么 (zhème) or 那么 (nàme) to express the meaning of “how can (something) be so (adjective)?!” Subject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adjective When used together with an adjective, 不怎么 becomes similar to 不太, which means that the degree of the adjective is not very high. Subject + 不怎么 + Adjective USING 怎么 IN A RHETORICAL QUESTION Rhetorical questions are asked in order to make a point. The speaker doesn’t really expect an answer because the answer should be obvious. The speaker clearly thinks this shouldn’t have happened, or thought it couldn’t have happened. 怎么 + Adjectives Learn Mandarin with Flexi Classes Book online classes with the best teachers in the industry. 怎么 is a Chinese question word that we can translate by “how”, but in several instances it can also mean “why”. It is encountered very often in daily situations, so as other question words it is a very useful one to master. 怎么 is pronounced zěnme . Here are some of the most common sentence structures with 怎么. 怎么 can be used with verbs to mean HOW: (Subject) + 怎么 + Verb + (Object)？ Used with verbs, 怎么 can also mean WHY: Subject +怎么 + Verb + Object ? 怎么 can also be used with adjectives, most often used to negate the adjective placed after 怎么: Subject +怎么 (+不) + Adjective 你怎么上班? nǐ zěnme shàngbān. | How do you go to work? 他怎么还没来？tā zěnme hái méi lái? | Why hasn’t he come yet?我 没怎么复习。wǒ méi zěnme fùxí. | I didn’t review much. 水怎么不热？shuǐ zěnme bù rè? | Why is the water not hot? First thing to know about the Chinese language is that there is no alphabet ! Characters are used, and are themselves made of various components called radicals . Characters are best learned with a Chinese teacher as they can explain how to write them, in what stroke order , as well as their origin and meaning. Many apps such as Skritter or Dong Chinese can help you practice your writing and reading skills as well.

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