Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not often" with "bu zenme""
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*我们 <em>不怎么</em> 看 电视 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù zěnme</em> kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">We don't watch a lot of television.</span> | *我们 <em>不怎么</em> 看 电视 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>bù zěnme</em> kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">We don't watch a lot of television.</span> | ||
*我 儿子 <em>不怎么</em>吃 零食 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <em>bùzěnme</em> chī língshí.</span><span class="trans">My son doesn't eat snacks very often.</span> | *我 儿子 <em>不怎么</em>吃 零食 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <em>bùzěnme</em> chī língshí.</span><span class="trans">My son doesn't eat snacks very often.</span> | ||
− | *老板 <em>不怎么</em> 来 办公室 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em> | + | *老板 <em>不怎么</em> 来 办公室 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>bù zěnme</em> lái bàngōngshì.</span><span class="trans">My boss doesn't come to the office very often.</span> |
− | *你 好像 <em>不怎么</em> 喝酒 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hǎoxiàng <em> | + | *你 好像 <em>不怎么</em> 喝酒 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hǎoxiàng <em>bù zěnme</em> hējiǔ.</span><span class="trans">It seems that you don't drink very often.</span> |
− | *我 同事 <em>不怎么</em> 去 健身 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tóngshì <em> | + | *我 同事 <em>不怎么</em> 去 健身 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tóngshì <em>bù zěnme</em> qù jiànshēn.</span><span class="trans">My colleagues don't go to the gym.</span> |
− | *新 室友 <em>不怎么</em> 跟 朋友 出去 玩 。<span class="pinyin">Xīn shìyǒu <em> | + | *新 室友 <em>不怎么</em> 跟 朋友 出去 玩 。<span class="pinyin">Xīn shìyǒu <em>bù zěnme</em> gēn péngyou chūqù wán.</span><span class="trans">The new roommate doesn't go out and have fun with her friends very often.</span> |
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Revision as of 04:32, 23 August 2017
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Level
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Keywords
You might be tempted to conclude that 不怎么 (bù zěnme) seems to mean "not how," but it actually means "not often" when used together with a verb.
Structure
When 不怎么 is used with a verb, it means that one does not put a lot of time or energy into doing it. In other words, the action is done "not often." When the verb is used with an object, it also means that the number (or quantity) is really small.
Subj. + 不怎么 + Verb ( + Obj. )
Examples
- 他 不怎么 说话 。He doesn't like talking too much.
- 我 老公 不怎么 做饭 。My husband doesn't cook very often.
- 我们 不怎么 看 电视 。We don't watch a lot of television.
- 我 儿子 不怎么吃 零食 。My son doesn't eat snacks very often.
- 老板 不怎么 来 办公室 。My boss doesn't come to the office very often.
- 你 好像 不怎么 喝酒 。It seems that you don't drink very often.
- 我 同事 不怎么 去 健身 。My colleagues don't go to the gym.
- 新 室友 不怎么 跟 朋友 出去 玩 。The new roommate doesn't go out and have fun with her friends very often.
Usage of 没怎么
Note that the examples below use 没 instead of 不. This is because the verb uses or implies 有 and thus it uses the same the 有 negation rules.
- 他 没 怎么 说话。He didn't say much.
- 我 没 怎么 复习。I didn't review much.
- 开会 的 时候 ,我们 没 怎么 讨论 这 件 事。We didn't discuss this matter much when we were at the meeting.
- 昨天 我 肚子 不 舒服 ,没 怎么 吃 东西 。I didn't feel well in the stomach yesterday, so I didn't eat much.
- 今天 很 热 ,不过 我 没 怎么 出汗 。It's hot today, but I didn't sweat much.
Lastly, make sure to use 不怎么 with a verb if you want it to mean "not often." Using it with an adjective gives it a different meaning.
See Also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 139) →buy
- 现代汉语八百词 (p.652) →buy