Asking how something is with "zenmeyang"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-zenme.jpg

You may know that 怎么 (zěnme) can mean "how", but by adding to it and making it 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng), you can ask how something is, or what it is like. This is useful in all manner of conversations, and is essential for building conversation skills.

Basic Usage

Structure

This question form is super simple. It is similar to asking the question, "how is...?"

Subj. + 怎么样 ?

Examples

Many of these sample sentences are super common in everyday life, so it's a good idea to get familiar with them.

  • 你 最近 怎么样Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng ? How have you been recently?
  • 中国 怎么样Zhōngguò zěnmeyàng ? How is China?
  • 北京 冬天 怎么样Běijīng dōngtiān zěnmeyàng ? How is Beijing in the winter?
  • 今天 天气 怎么样Jīntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng ? How is the weather today?
  • 你 妹妹 的 工作 怎么样Nǐ mèimei dē gōngzuò zěnmeyàng ? How is your little sister's job going?
  • 你的 新 手机 怎么样Nǐ de xīn shǒujī zěnmeyàng ? How's your new phone?
  • 这里 的 菜 怎么样 ?好吃 吗 ?Zhèlǐ de cài zěnmeyàng ? Hǎochī ma?How is the food here? Is it good?

Asking Opinions

Structure

In this pattern, you're directly asking for an opinion in an open-ended way.

你 觉得 + Topic + 怎么样 ?

This is like asking, "what do you think of...?"

Examples

  • 你 觉得 上海 怎么样Nǐ juéde Shànghǎi zěnmeyàng ? What do you think of Shanghai?
  • 你 觉得怎么样Nǐ juédezěnmeyàng ? What do you think of me?
  • 你 觉得 中文 怎么样 ? 难学 吗 ?Nǐ juéde Zhōngwén zěnmeyàng? Nánxué ma? What do you think of Chinese? Is it difficult to learn?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books