Difference between revisions of "How to do something with "zenme""
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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Here's how you use 怎么 (zěnme).
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怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all: just put it before a [[verb]].
  
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== The Basic "How to Verb" Something ==
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== The Basic "How to Verb" Usage ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
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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:
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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">
  
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Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object
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Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions.
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Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* <em>怎么</em> 去？<span class="trans">How do you get there?</span>
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*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>
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* 中文 <em>怎么</em> 说 "apple"？<span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span>
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*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>
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* <em>怎么</em> 用 筷子 吃饭？<span class="trans">How do you use chopstick to eat?</span>
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*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>
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* <em>怎么</em> 做饭？<span class="trans">How do you cook?</span>
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*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>
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*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>
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== Topic First ==
 
== Topic First ==
  
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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.
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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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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You'll notice that the topic is usually the object of the verb, just moved to the front of the question.
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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 ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走？<span class="trans">How do you get to the supermarket?</span>
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* <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>
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* <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃？<span class="trans">How do you eat mangoes?</span>
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* <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>
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* <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用？<span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span>
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* <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>
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* <strong>太极拳</strong> <em>怎么</em> 打？<span class="trans">How do you do tai-chi?</span>
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* <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>
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* <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>
  
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== See also ==
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== See Also ==
  
 
*[[Placement of question words]]
 
*[[Placement of question words]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|42}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191}}
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）]]  (pp. 651-2}}
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|163}}
  
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
 
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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* [[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]]  (pp. 651-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + Verb ?|<em>怎么</em> 走?|grammar point|ASGH2MNO}}
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{{Used for|Asking questions}}
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{{Similar|Asking why with "zenme"}}
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182－184
 
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{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + V ?|<em>怎么</em> 去 ?|grammar point|ASGH2MNO}}
 
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}
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{{Similar|Asking questions}}
 
 
{{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}}
 
{{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}}
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{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}
 
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
 
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}
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{{Translation|how}}

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

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:

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？Nǐmen zěnme xué Zhōngwén?How do you study Chinese?
  • 你 怎么 上班？坐 地铁 吗？Nǐ zěnme shàngbān? Zuò dìtiě ma?How do you get to work? By metro?
  • 你 知道 怎么 去 外滩 吗？Nǐ zhīdào zěnme qù​ Wàitān ma?Do you know how to get to the Bund?
  • 你 怎么 知道 我 喜欢 旅行？Nǐ zěnme zhīdào wǒ xǐhuan lǚxíng?How did you know I like to travel?
  • 我 不 知道 怎么 跟 女孩子 说话。Wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme gēn nǚháizi shuōhuà.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？Mángguǒ zěnme chī?How do you eat mangos?
  • iPad 怎么 用？iPad zěnme yòng?How do you use an iPad?
  • 语法 怎么 学 ？Yǔfǎ zěnme xué?How do you study grammar?
  • 中国 菜 怎么 做？Zhōngguó cài zěnme zuò?How do you cook Chinese food?
  • "Apple" 怎么 说？the "in Chinese" is implied"Apple" zěnme shuō?How do you say apple?

See Also

Sources and further reading

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