Difference between revisions of "Asking why with "zenme""
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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."
 
Aside from [[How to do something with "zenme"|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
  
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== Basic Pattern ==
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== Basic Usage ==
  
 
=== With a Verb ===
 
=== With a Verb ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 还 没 来 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em> hái méi lái? </span> <span class="trans">How come he's not here yet?</span>
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* 他 <em>怎么</em> 还 没 来 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em> hái méi lái? </span><span class="trans">How come he's not here yet?</span>
−
* 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>
−
* 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>
+
* 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 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>
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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>
−
* 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>
+
* 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>
−
* 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>
+
* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
−
In this case, you need some negative words after 怎么 (zěnme).
+
In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么 (zěnme).
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
−
Subj. + 怎么 + [Negative Adj.]
+
Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 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>
+
* 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>
+
* 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>
−
* 她 亲 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā qīn le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù gāoxìng? </span> <span class="trans">She kissed you. How come you're not happy? </span>
+
* 他 亲 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā qīn le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">He kissed you. How come you're not happy? </span>
−
* 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>
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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>
−
* 每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累？<span class="pinyin">Měi tiān gōngzuò shíèr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù lèi?</span> <span class="trans">Every day you work 12 hours, why are you not tired? </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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== 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"]].)
+
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">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
* 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>
−
* 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>
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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>
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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>
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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>
+
* 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> 这么 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ <em>zěnme</em> zhème hǎo? </span> <span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good? </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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[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}}
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|6}}
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么⋯⋯？|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
 
{{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}}

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

  • 他 怎么 还 没 来 ？Tā 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

  • 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?
  • 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

  • 他 怎么 那么 懒？Tā 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


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