Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""
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* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢”？<span class="trans">Why don't you say "thanks"?</span> | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢”？<span class="trans">Why don't you say "thanks"?</span> | ||
| − | * <em>怎么</em> 不 说话？<span class="trans">Why don't you speak | + | * <em>怎么</em> 不 说话？<span class="trans">Why don't you speak?</span> |
* 你 女 朋友 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？<span class="trans">Why haven't you girlfriend arrived?</span> | * 你 女 朋友 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？<span class="trans">Why haven't you girlfriend arrived?</span> | ||
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 给 我 打 电话？<span class="trans">Why haven't you given me a call?</span> | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 给 我 打 电话？<span class="trans">Why haven't you given me a call?</span> | ||
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* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 喝酒？<span class="trans">Why don't you drink alcohol?</span> | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 喝酒？<span class="trans">Why don't you drink alcohol?</span> | ||
* 你 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 没 回家？<span class="trans">Why didn't you come home yesterday?</span> | * 你 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 没 回家？<span class="trans">Why didn't you come home yesterday?</span> | ||
| − | * 你 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班？<span class="trans"> | + | * 你 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班？<span class="trans">Why didn't you go to work today?</span> |
| − | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 写 作业？<span class="trans"> | + | * 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 写 作业？<span class="trans">Why haven't you done your homework?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 07:03, 22 November 2013
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Keywords
Aside from just meaning "how," 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
Contents
Basic Usage
Structure with Verb
Similar to the question word 为什么, questions can also be asked with 怎么.
Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ?
This has similar connotations to saying "how come" in English. It not only asks why, but expresses some surprise at the situation, and in some cases even disagreement with it.
Examples
- 你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢”？Why don't you say "thanks"?
- 怎么 不 说话？Why don't you speak?
- 你 女 朋友 怎么 没 来？Why haven't you girlfriend arrived?
- 你 怎么 没 给 我 打 电话？Why haven't you given me a call?
- 你 怎么 生气 了？Why are you angry?
- 你 怎么 不 喝酒？Why don't you drink alcohol?
- 你 昨天 怎么 没 回家？Why didn't you come home yesterday?
- 你 今天 怎么 不 去 上班？Why didn't you go to work today?
- 你 怎么 没 写 作业？Why haven't you done your homework?
Structure with Adjective
In this case , you need some negative words after 怎么.
Subject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words
Examples
- 老师 怎么 不 高兴？Why aren't you happy?
- 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时，你 怎么 不 累？Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?
- 妈妈 病 了，你 怎么 不 难过？Mom is sick, why are you not sad?
- 这 个 苹果 怎么 不 甜？Why isn't this apple sweet?
- 你 买 的 肉 怎么 不 香？Why is the meat you bought not appetizing?
- 这 个 孩子 怎么 不 害羞？Why is this child not shy?
- 水 怎么 不 热？Why is the water not hot?
- 这里 的 川菜 怎么 不 辣？Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?
- 今天 怎么 不冷？Why isn't it cold today?
- 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 不 高？Why wasn't the kids tall before?
"Why so..." Usage
Structure
One pattern this use of 怎么 frequently appears in is with 这么 or 那么. (For more on 这么 and 那么, see adjectives with "name" and "zheme".)
Subject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj
This use of 怎么 could be translated as either "how" or "why"; the actual meaning sort of falls in the fuzzy region between the two. In any case, it's used to express disbelief: how can (something) be so (adjective)?!
Examples
- 这 个 苹果 怎么 这么 甜？How sweet is this apple?
- 你 买 的 肉 怎么 这么 香？How is this meat you bought not appetizing?
- 水 怎么 这么 热？How is this water not hot?
- 川菜 怎么 那么 辣？How is that Sichuan food not spicy?
- 昨天 怎么 那么 冷？How cold was it yesterday?
- 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 那么 矮？How were the kids before not that low?
- 这 个 孩子 怎么 这么 害羞？How is that little kid this shy?
- 我 怎么 觉得 这么 累？Why do I feel this tired?
- 你 怎么 这么 难过？Why are you feeling this bad?
- 他 怎么 那么 高 ？How can you be so tall?
- 你的 汉语 怎么 那么 好？How is your Chinese so good?
- 他 怎么 那么 懒 ？How can he be this lazy?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
