Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
Aside from [[How to do something|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
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Aside from [[How to do something with "zenme"|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
  
 
== Basic Usage ==
 
== Basic Usage ==
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 +
=== With a Verb ===
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
Similar to the question word [[为什么]] (wèishéme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).  
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Similar to the question word [[为什么]] (wèishénme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢” ? <span class="pinyin"><em>zěnme</em> bù shuō xièxiè?</span> <span class="trans">How come you didn't say thank you?</span>
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* <em>怎么</em> 还 没 来 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>zěnme</em> hái méi lái? </span><span class="trans">How come he's not here yet?</span>
* <em>怎么</em> 不 说话 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>Zěnme</em> bù shuōhuà?</span> <span class="trans">Why don't you speak?</span>
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* 你们 <em>怎么</em> 打 人?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> dǎ rén? </span><span class="trans">How can you hit people? </span>
* 你 女 朋友 <em>怎么</em> 没 来 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ nǚpéngyou <em>zěnme</em> méi lái?</span> <span class="trans">How come your girlfriend didn't come?</span>
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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 "xièxie"? </span><span class="trans">He helped you. How come you didn't say thank you? </span>
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 给 我 打 电话 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> méi gěi dǎ diànhuà?</span> <span class="trans">How come you didn't call me?</span>
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* 你 结婚 的时候 <em>怎么</em> 不 告诉 我?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhou <em>zěnme</em> bù gàosu wǒ? </span><span class="trans">How come you didn't tell me when you got married? </span>
* <em>怎么</em> 生气 了 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>zěnme</em> shēngqì le?</span> <span class="trans">Why are you angry?</span>
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* 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 chī wán le? </span><span class="trans">We haven't started eating yet. How come he has already finished eating? </span>
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 喝酒 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù hējiǔ?</span> <span class="trans">Why aren't you drinking?</span>
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* 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 aren't you going to work? </span>
* 你 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 没 回家 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <em>zěnme</em> méi huíjiā?</span> <span class="trans">Why didn't you come home yesterday?</span>
 
* 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jīntiān <em>zěnme</em> bù qù shàngbān?</span> <span class="trans">Why didn't you go to work today?</span>
 
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 写 作业 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> méi xiě zuòyè?</span> <span class="trans">Why haven't you done your homework?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== With Adjective ===
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=== With an Adjective ===
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
In this case, you need some negative words after 怎么 (zěnme).
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In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么 (zěnme).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words
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Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 老师 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴 ? <span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>zěnme</em> bù gāoxìng?</span> <span class="trans">How come the teacher is unhappy?</span>
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* <em>怎么</em> 不 热?<span class="pinyin">Shuǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù ? </span><span class="trans">Why is the water not hot? </span>
* 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>
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* 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣?<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de chuāncài <em>zěnme</em> bù ? </span><span class="trans">Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy? </span>
* 妈妈 病 , 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过 ? <span class="pinyin">Māma bìng le, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù nánguò?</span> <span class="trans">Mom is sick, why are you not sad?</span>
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* 他 亲 你,你 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā qīn le , nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">He kissed you. How come you're not happy? </span>
* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 不 甜 ? <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge píngguǒ <em>zěnme</em> bù tián?</span> <span class="trans">Why isn't this apple sweet?</span>
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* 她 的 小猫 死 了,她 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过?<span class="pinyin">Tā de xiǎomāo sǐ le, tā <em>zěnme</em> bù nánguò? </span><span class="trans">Her kitten died. Why isn't she sad? </span>
* 你 买 的 肉 <em>怎么</em> 不 新鲜 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ mǎi de ròu <em>zěnme</em> bù xīnxiān?</span> <span class="trans">Why is the meat you bought not fresh?</span>
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* 每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ,你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累?<span class="pinyin">Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù lèi?</span><span class="trans">Every day you work 12 hours. Why are you not tired? </span>
* 这 个 孩子 <em>怎么</em> 不 害羞 ? <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge háizi <em>zěnme</em> bù hàixiū?</span> <span class="trans">Why is this child not shy?</span>
 
* 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 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>
 
* 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 冷 ? <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <em>zěnme</em> bù lěng?</span> <span class="trans">How is it not cold today?</span>
 
* 你们 <em>怎么</em> 不 开心 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> bù kāixīn?</span> <span class="trans">Why are you guys unhappy?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== "Why so..." Usage ==
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== "Why So..." Usage ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== 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"]]).
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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"|adjectives with "name" and "zheme."]])
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj
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Subj. + 怎么 + 这么 / 那么 + Adj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 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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* <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒?<span class="pinyin"><em>zěnme</em> nàme lǎn? </span><span class="trans">How can he be this lazy? </span>
* 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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* 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>
* 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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* 这些人 <em>怎么</em> 这么 吵?<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē rén <em>zěnme</em> zhème chǎo? </span><span class="trans">How can these people so loud? </span>
* 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 那么 辣 ? <span class="pinyin">Chuāncài <em>zěnme</em> nàme ?</span> <span class="trans">How can Sichuan food be so spicy?</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>
* 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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* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 这么 好?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ <em>zěnme</em> zhème hǎo? </span><span class="trans">How is your Mandarin so good? </span>
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 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>
 
* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 高 ? <span class="pinyin"><em>zěnme</em> nàme gāo?</span> <span class="trans">How can you be so tall?</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>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191}}
 
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|44}}
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|6}}
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么……?|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来?|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么⋯⋯?|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来?|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
 
{{Rel char|这么}}
 
{{Rel char|这么}}
 
{{Rel char|那么}}
 
{{Rel char|那么}}
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{{Similar|How to do something with "zenme"}}
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}
 
{{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}}
 
{{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}}

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

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

Basic Usage

With a Verb

Structure

Similar to the question word 为什么 (wèishénme), 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

  • 怎么 还 没 来 ?zěnme hái méi lái? How come he's not here yet?
  • 你们 怎么 打 人?Nǐmen zěnme dǎ rén? How can you hit people?
  • 他 帮 了 你,你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢” ?Tā bāng le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù shuō "xièxie"? He helped you. How come you didn't say thank you?
  • 你 结婚 的时候 怎么 不 告诉 我?Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhou zěnme bù gàosu wǒ? How come you didn't tell me when you got married?
  • 我们 还 没 开始 吃,他 怎么 已经 吃完 了?Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā zěnme yǐjīng chī wán le? 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?Jīntiān shì Xīngqīyī, nǐ zěnme bù qù shàngbān? Today is Monday. Why aren't you going to work?

With an Adjective

Structure

In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么 (zěnme).

Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.

Examples

  • 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?
  • 他 亲 了 你,你 怎么 不 高兴 ?Tā qīn le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù gāoxìng? He kissed you. How come you're not happy?
  • 她 的 小猫 死 了,她 怎么 不 难过?Tā de xiǎomāo sǐ le, tā zěnme bù nánguò? Her kitten died. Why isn't she sad?
  • 每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ,你 怎么 不 累?Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ zěnme bù lèi?Every day you work 12 hours. Why are you not tired?

"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

  • 怎么 那么 懒?zěnme nàme lǎn? How can he be this lazy?
  • 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?Zhèxiē 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 这么 好?Nǐ de Hànyǔ zěnme zhème hǎo? How is your Mandarin so good?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books