Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\nAside from [[How to do something|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."\r\n== Basic Usage ==\r\n=== Structure with Verb===\r\nSimilar to the question word [[为什么]], questions can also be asked with 怎么. \r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ?\r\n</div>\r\nThis 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.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢”？<span class="trans">Why don't you say "thanks"?</span>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 +
 
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Aside from [[How to do something|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
 +
 
 +
== Basic Usage ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure with Verb===
 +
 
 +
Similar to the question word [[为什么]], questions can also be asked with 怎么.  
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ?
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 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?</span>
 
*  <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 hasn't your girlfriend arrived?</span>
 
* 你 女 朋友 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？<span class="trans">Why hasn't your girlfriend arrived?</span>
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* 你 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班？<span class="trans">Why didn't you go to work today?</span>
 
* 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">Why haven't you done your homework?</span>
 
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 写 作业？<span class="trans">Why haven't you done your homework?</span>
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</div>\r\n=== Structure with Adjective ===\r\nIn this case , you need some negative words after 怎么.\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 老师 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴？<span class="trans">Why isn't the teacher happy?</span>
+
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Structure with Adjective ===
 +
 
 +
In this case , you need some negative words after 怎么.
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 老师 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴？<span class="trans">Why isn't the teacher happy?</span>
 
* 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累？<span class="trans">Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?</span>
 
* 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累？<span class="trans">Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?</span>
 
* 妈妈 病 了，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？<span class="trans">Mom is sick, why are you not sad?</span>
 
* 妈妈 病 了，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？<span class="trans">Mom is sick, why are you not sad?</span>
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* 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣？<span class="trans">Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?</span>
 
* 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣？<span class="trans">Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?</span>
 
* 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不冷？<span class="trans">Why isn't it cold today?</span>
 
* 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不冷？<span class="trans">Why isn't it cold today?</span>
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* 你们<em>怎么</em> 都 不 吃饭？<span class="trans">Why haven't you eaten?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== "Why so..." Usage ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nOne 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"]].)\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj\r\n</div>\r\nThis 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)?!''\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 这么 甜？<span class="trans">How can this apple be so sweet?</span>
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* 你们<em>怎么</em> 都 不 吃饭？<span class="trans">Why haven't you eaten?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== "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"]].)
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 这么 甜？<span class="trans">How can this apple be so sweet?</span>
 
* 你 买 的 肉 <em>怎么</em> 这么 香？<span class="trans">How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?</span>
 
* 你 买 的 肉 <em>怎么</em> 这么 香？<span class="trans">How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?</span>
 
* 水 <em>怎么</em> 这么 热？<span class="trans">How can the water be so hot?</span>
 
* 水 <em>怎么</em> 这么 热？<span class="trans">How can the water be so hot?</span>
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 高 ？<span class="trans">How can you be so tall?</span>
 
* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 高 ？<span class="trans">How can you be so tall?</span>
 
* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 那么 好？<span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good?</span>
 
* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 那么 好？<span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good?</span>
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒 ？<span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n*[[Placement of question words]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒 ？<span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==See also==
 +
 
 +
*[[Placement of question words]]
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么……？|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么……？|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
 
{{Rel char|这么}}
 
{{Rel char|这么}}

Revision as of 09:01, 26 November 2013

Aside from just meaning "how," 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."

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 hasn't your 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 isn't the teacher 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?
  • 你们怎么 都 不 吃饭？Why haven't you eaten?

"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 can this apple be so sweet?
  • 你 买 的 肉 怎么 这么 香？How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?
  • 水 怎么 这么 热？How can the water be so hot?
  • 川菜 怎么 那么 辣？How can Sichuan food be so spicy?
  • 昨天 怎么 那么 冷？How could it be so cold yesterday?
  • 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 那么 矮？How could the kids before be so small?
  • 这 个 孩子 怎么 这么 害羞？How can this little girl be so shy?
  • 我 怎么 觉得 这么 累？How can I feel this tired?
  • 你 怎么 这么 难过？How can you be 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


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