Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""
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* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 这么 甜 ？ <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge píngguǒ <em>zěnme</em> zhème tián?</span> <span class="trans">How can this apple be so sweet?</span>
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* 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 那么 冷？ <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>zěnme</em> nàme lěng?</span> <span class="trans">How could it be so cold yesterday?</span>
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* 你 买 的 花 <em>怎么</em> 这么 香 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ mǎi de huā <em>zěnme</em> zhème xiāng?</span> <span class="trans">How can the flowers you bought smell so good?</span>
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* 这些人 <em>怎么</em> 这么 吵？ <span class="pinyin">Zhè xiē rén <em>zěnme</em> zhème chǎo?</span> <span class="trans">How can these people so loud?</span>
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* 水 <em>怎么</em> 这么 热 ？ <span class="pinyin">Shuǐ <em>zěnme</em> zhème rè?</span> <span class="trans">How can the water be so hot?</span>
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* 北京 的 空气 <em>怎么</em> 那么 �差？ <span class="pinyin">Běijīng de kōngqì <em>zěnme</em> nàme chà?</span> <span class="trans">How can the air in Beijing be so bad?</span>
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* 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 那么 辣 ？ <span class="pinyin">Chuāncài <em>zěnme</em> nàme là?</span> <span class="trans">How can Sichuan food be so spicy?</span>
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* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 那么 好？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ <em>zěnme</em> nàme hǎo?</span> <span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good?</span>
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* 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 那么 冷 ？ <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <em>zěnme</em> nàme lěng?</span> <span class="trans">How could it be so cold yesterday?</span>
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒？ <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em> nàme lǎn?</span> <span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?</span>
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* 以前 的 小孩 <em>怎么</em> 都 那么 矮 ？ <span class="pinyin">Yǐqián de xiǎohái <em>zěnme</em> dōu nàme ǎi?</span> <span class="trans">How could the kids before be so short?</span>
 
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* 这 个 女孩子 <em>怎么</em> 这么 害羞 ？ <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge nǚháizi <em>zěnme</em> zhème hàixiū?</span> <span class="trans">How can this little girl be so shy?</span>
 
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* 我 <em>怎么</em> 觉得 这么 累 ？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zěnme</em> juéde zhème lèi?</span> <span class="trans">How can I feel this tired?</span>
 
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* 你 <em>怎么</em> 这么 难过 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> zhème nánguò?</span> <span class="trans">How can you be feeling this bad?</span>
 
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 高 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em> nàme gāo?</span> <span class="trans">How can you be so tall?</span>
 
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* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 那么 好 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ <em>zěnme</em> nàme hǎo?</span> <span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good?</span>
 
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒 ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em> nàme lǎn?</span> <span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?</span>
 
  
 
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Revision as of 09:40, 3 November 2015

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

Basic Usage

With Verb

Structure

Similar to the question word 为什么 (wèishéme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).

Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj. ?

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” ？ Nǐ zěnme bù shuō xièxiè? How come you didn't say thank you?
  • 大家 怎么 都 不 说话？ Zěnme bù shuōhuà? Why don't you speak?
  • 你 女 朋友 怎么 没 跟 你 一起 来？ Nǐ nǚpéngyou zěnme méi gēn nǐ yīqǐ lái? How come your girlfriend didn't come together with you?
  • 大家 都 在 喝酒，你 怎么 不 喝？ Dàjiā dōu zài hējiǔ, nǐ zěnme bù hē? Everyone is drinking wine.Why aren't you drinking?
  • 今天 是 星期一，你 怎么 不 去 上班 ？ Jīntiān shì xīngqīyī, nǐ zěnme bù qù shàngbān? Today is Monday.Why didn't you go to work?

With Adjective

Structure

In this case, you need some negative words after 怎么 (zěnme).

Subj. + 怎么 + [Negative Adjective Words]

Examples

  • 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时 ， 你 怎么 不 累 ？ Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr ge xiǎoshí, nǐ zěnme bù lèi? Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?
  • 他 打 了 你，你 怎么 不 生气？ Tā dǎ le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù shēngqì? He hit you.How come you are not mad at him?
  • 她 妈妈 死 了，她 怎么 不 难过？ Tāmāma sǐ le, tā zěnme bù nánguò? Her mom is dead.Why isn't she sad?
  • 水 怎么 不 热 ？ Shuǐ zěnme bù rè? Why is the water not hot?
  • 这里 的 川菜 怎么 不 辣 ？ Zhèlǐ de chuāncài zěnme bù là? Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?

"Why so..." Usage

Structure

One pattern this use of 怎么 (zěnme) frequently appears in is with 这么 (zhème) or 那么 (nàme). (For more on 这么 (zhème) and 那么 (nàme), see adjectives with "name" and "zheme").

Subj. + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj.

This use of 怎么 (zěnme) 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

  • 昨天 怎么 那么 冷？ Zuótiān zěnme nàme lěng? How could it be so cold yesterday?
  • 这些人 怎么 这么 吵？ Zhè xiē rén zěnme zhème chǎo? How can these people so loud?
  • 北京 的 空气 怎么 那么 �差？ Běijīng de kōngqì zěnme nàme chà? How can the air in Beijing be so bad?
  • 你的 汉语 怎么 那么 好？ Nǐ de Hànyǔ zěnme nàme hǎo? How is your Chinese so good?
  • 他 怎么 那么 懒？ Tā zěnme nàme lǎn? How can he be this lazy?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books


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