Difference between revisions of "How to do something with "zenme""
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* <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Chāoshì </strong> <em>zěnme</em> zǒu?</span><span class="trans">How do you get to the supermarket?</span>
 
 
* <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Mángguǒ </strong> <em>zěnme</em> chī?</span><span class="trans">How do you eat mangos?</span>
 
* <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Mángguǒ </strong> <em>zěnme</em> chī?</span><span class="trans">How do you eat mangos?</span>
 
* <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>iPad</strong> <em>zěnme</em> yòng?</span><span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span>
 
* <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>iPad</strong> <em>zěnme</em> yòng?</span><span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span>
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* <strong>太极拳</strong> <em>怎么</em> 打？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Tàijí quán </strong> <em>zěnme</em> dǎ?</span><span class="trans">How do you do tai chi?</span>
 
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* <strong> "apple" 用 中文</strong> <em>怎么</em> 说？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>"apple" yòng Zhōngwén </strong> <em>zěnme</em> shuō?</span><span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span>
 
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* <strong>用 手机</strong> <em>怎么</em>  上网？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Yòng shǒujī </strong> <em>zěnme</em> shàngwǎng?</span><span class="trans">How do you use a cell phone to get on the internet?</span>
 
 
* <strong>语法</strong> <em>怎么</em> 学 ？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Yǔfǎ </strong> <em>zěnme</em> xué?</span><span class="trans">How do you study grammar?</span>
 
* <strong>语法</strong> <em>怎么</em> 学 ？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Yǔfǎ </strong> <em>zěnme</em> xué?</span><span class="trans">How do you study grammar?</span>
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* <strong>我 喜欢 旅游</strong>， 你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 ？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Wǒ xǐhuan lǚyóu </strong>, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> zhīdào?</span><span class="trans">How did you know I like to travel?</span>
 
 
* <strong>中国 菜</strong> <em>怎么</em> 做？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Zhōngguó cài </strong> <em>zěnme</em> zuò?</span><span class="trans">How do you cook Chinese food?</span>
 
* <strong>中国 菜</strong> <em>怎么</em> 做？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Zhōngguó cài </strong> <em>zěnme</em> zuò?</span><span class="trans">How do you cook Chinese food?</span>
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* <strong>这么 多 苹果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃 ？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>Zhème duō píngguǒ </strong> <em>zěnme</em> chī?</span><span class="trans">How do you eat so many apples?</span>
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* <strong> "apple" 用 中文</strong> <em>怎么</em> 说？<span class="pinyin"><Strong>"apple" yòng Zhōngwén </strong> <em>zěnme</em> shuō?</span><span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:57, 18 September 2015

怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all. Learn how to use it here!

The Basic "How to Verb" Something

Structure

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:

Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj.

Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.

Examples

  • 你们 怎么 学 中文？Nǐmen zěnme xué Zhōngwén?How do you study Chinese?
  • 你 怎么 上班？坐 地铁 吗？Nǐ zěnme shàngbān? Zuò dìtiě ma?How do you get to work? By metro?
  • 你 知道 怎么 去 外滩 吗？Nǐ zhīdào zěnme Wàigtān ma?Do you know how to get to the bond?
  • 你 怎么 知道 我 喜欢 旅行？Nǐ zěnme zhīdào wǒ xǐhuan lǚxíng?How did you know I like to travel?
  • 我 不 知道 怎么 跟 女孩子 说话。Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme gēn nǚháizi shuōhuà.I don't know how to talk to girls.

Topic First

Starting a "how to" question with the topic at the beginning of the question is very common. That is, the thing being asked about is introduced first, then a question is asked about how to do something involving it.

Structure

Topic + 怎么 + Verb

The object doesn't have to come after the verb. Sometimes it moves to the front of the question, establishing what the question is going to be about, before getting specific with the "how" question.

Examples

  • 芒果 怎么 吃？Mángguǒ zěnme chī?How do you eat mangos?
  • iPad 怎么 用？iPad zěnme yòng?How do you use an iPad?
  • 语法 怎么 学 ？Yǔfǎ zěnme xué?How do you study grammar?
  • 中国 菜 怎么 做？Zhōngguó cài zěnme zuò?How do you cook Chinese food?
  • "apple" 用 中文 怎么 说？"apple" yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?How do you say "apple" in Chinese?

See also

Sources and further reading

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