Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""
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| − | * 他 帮 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢” ？ <span class="pinyin">Tā bāng le nǐ,nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù shuō xièxiè?</span> <span class="trans">He helped you.How come you didn't say thank you?</span> | + | * 他 帮 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢” ？<span class="pinyin">Tā bāng le nǐ,nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù shuō xièxiè? </span> <span class="trans">He helped you.How come you didn't say thank you? </span> |
| − | * 你们 <em>怎么</em> 打 人？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> | + | * 你们 <em>怎么</em> 打 人？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> dǎrén? </span> <span class="trans">How can you hit people? </span> |
| − | * 你 结婚 的时候 <em>怎么</em> 不 告诉 我？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhòu <em>zěnme</em> bù gàosù wǒ?</span> <span class="trans">How come you didi't tell me when you get married?</span> | + | * 你 结婚 的时候 <em>怎么</em> 不 告诉 我？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhòu <em>zěnme</em> bù gàosù wǒ? </span> <span class="trans">How come you didi't tell me when you get married? </span> |
| − | * 我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 <em>怎么</em> 已经 吃完 了？ <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā <em>zěnme</em> yǐjīng chīwán le?</span> <span class="trans">We haven't started eating yet.How come he has already finished eating?</span> | + | * 我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 <em>怎么</em> 已经 吃完 了？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā <em>zěnme</em> yǐjīng chīwán le? </span> <span class="trans">We haven't started eating yet. How come he has already finished eating? </span> |
| − | * 今天 是 星期一，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 | + | * 今天 是 星期一，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班？<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān shì Xīngqīyī, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù qù shàngbān? </span> <span class="trans">Today is Monday. Why didn't you go to work? </span> |
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| − | * 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时 | + | * 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时 ，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累？<span class="pinyin">Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr ge xiǎoshí, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù lèi?</span> <span class="trans">Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired? </span> |
| − | * 他 打 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 生气？ <span class="pinyin">Tā dǎ le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù shēngqì?</span> <span class="trans">He hit you.How come you are not mad at him?</span> | + | * 他 打 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 生气？<span class="pinyin">Tā dǎ le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù shēngqì? </span> <span class="trans">He hit you. How come you are not mad at him? </span> |
| − | * 她 妈妈 死 了，她 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？ <span class="pinyin">Tāmāma sǐ le, tā <em>zěnme</em> bù nánguò?</span> <span class="trans">Her mom is dead.Why isn't she sad?</span> | + | * 她 妈妈 死 了，她 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？<span class="pinyin">Tāmāma sǐ le, tā <em>zěnme</em> bù nánguò? </span> <span class="trans">Her mom is dead.Why isn't she sad? </span> |
| − | * 水 <em>怎么</em> 不 | + | * 水 <em>怎么</em> 不 热？<span class="pinyin">Shuǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù rè? </span> <span class="trans">Why is the water not hot? </span> |
| − | * 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 | + | * 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣？<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de chuāncài <em>zěnme</em> bù là? </span> <span class="trans">Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy? </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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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> |
| − | * 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> | + | * 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 04:21, 2 December 2015
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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
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
- 他 帮 了 你，你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢” ？ He helped you.How come you didn't say thank you?
- 你们 怎么 打 人？ How can you hit people?
- 你 结婚 的时候 怎么 不 告诉 我？ How come you didi't tell me when you get married?
- 我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 怎么 已经 吃完 了？ We haven't started eating yet. How come he has already finished eating?
- 今天 是 星期一，你 怎么 不 去 上班？ 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？ Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?
- 他 打 了 你，你 怎么 不 生气？ He hit you. How come you are not mad at him?
- 她 妈妈 死 了，她 怎么 不 难过？ Her mom is dead.Why isn't she sad?
- 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?
"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？ How could it be so cold yesterday?
- 这些人 怎么 这么 吵？ How can these people so loud?
- 北京 的 空气 怎么 那么 差？ How can the air in Beijing be so bad?
- 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
