Difference between revisions of "How to do something with "zenme""
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| − | {{Grammar Box}} | + | {{Grammar Box}} |
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| − | The question word 怎么 is used to ask ''how'' in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that's being asked about: | + | 怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all: just put it before a [[verb]]. |
| + | |||
| + | == The Basic "How to Verb" Usage == | ||
| + | |||
| + | === 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: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj. | |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions. | + | Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object. |
| − | + | === Examples === | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <em>怎么</em> | + | *你们 <em>怎么</em> 学 中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> xué Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span> |
| − | * | + | *你 <em>怎么</em> 上班？坐 地铁 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> shàngbān? Zuò dìtiě ma?</span><span class="trans">How do you get to work? By metro?</span> |
| − | * <em>怎么</em> | + | *你 知道 <em>怎么</em> 去 外滩 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào <em>zěnme</em> qù Wàitān ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how to get to the Bund?</span> |
| + | *你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 我 喜欢 旅行？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> zhīdào wǒ xǐhuan lǚxíng?</span><span class="trans">How did you know I like to travel?</span> | ||
| + | *我 不 知道 <em>怎么</em> 跟 女孩子 说话。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù zhīdào <em>zěnme</em> gēn nǚháizi shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">I don't know how to talk to girls.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Topic | + | == Topic First == |
| + | |||
| + | Starting a "how to" question with the [[Topic-comment sentences|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 === | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| Line 32: | Line 41: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | 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 === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <strong> | + | * <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> | + | * <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> | + | * <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>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>"Apple"</strong> <em>怎么</em> 说？<span class="expl">the "in Chinese" is implied</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>"Apple" </strong> <em>zěnme</em> shuō?</span><span class="trans">How do you say apple?</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | ==See | + | == See Also == |
| + | |||
*[[Placement of question words]] | *[[Placement of question words]] | ||
| − | *[[Asking | + | *[[Asking questions]] |
== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|42}} | |
| + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191}} | ||
| + | {{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (pp. 651-2}} | ||
| + | {{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|163}} | ||
| − | |||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| − | + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | |
| − | + | {{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + Verb ?|<em>怎么</em> 走?|grammar point|ASGH2MNO}} | |
| − | {{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + | + | {{Similar|Asking why with "zenme"}} |
{{Similar|Placement of question words}} | {{Similar|Placement of question words}} | ||
| − | {{Similar|Asking | + | {{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}} |
| + | {{Used for|Asking questions}} | ||
| + | {{POS|Verbs}} | ||
| + | {{Subprop|Verb phrases}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|how}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all: just put it before a verb.
Contents
The Basic "How to Verb" Usage
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？How do you study Chinese?
- 你 怎么 上班？坐 地铁 吗？How do you get to work? By metro?
- 你 知道 怎么 去 外滩 吗？Do you know how to get to the Bund?
- 你 怎么 知道 我 喜欢 旅行？How did you know I like to travel?
- 我 不 知道 怎么 跟 女孩子 说话。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？How do you eat mangos?
- iPad 怎么 用？How do you use an iPad?
- 语法 怎么 学 ？How do you study grammar?
- 中国 菜 怎么 做？How do you cook Chinese food?
- "Apple" 怎么 说？the "in Chinese" is impliedHow do you say apple?
See Also
Sources and further reading
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 42) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 191) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 651-2]] (pp. {{{2}}}) [ →buy] 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 651-2| ]]{{{2}}}␞现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 651-2␞How to do something with "zenme"| ]]
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 163) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
