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

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

Level

A2 / HSK2
Level

A2
Level

HSK2
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "not often" with "bu zenme" (HSK0)
- Asking how something is with "zenmeyang" (HSK1)
- How to do something with "zenme" (HSK1)
Used for

Asking questions, Exclaiming, Expressing attitude
Keywords

怎么, 这么, 那么

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?

Sources and further reading

Books

[[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191}}
HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 44) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Grammar Box}} \r\nAside from [[How to do something|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."\r\n== Basic Usage ==\r\n=== Structure with Verb===\r\nSimilar to the question word [[为什么]], questions can also be asked with 怎么. \r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ?\r\n</div>\r\nThis 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.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢”？<span class="trans">Why don't you say "thanks"?</span>
+{{Grammar Box}}
-*  <em>怎么</em> 不 说话？<span class="trans">Why don't you speak?</span>
-* 你 女 朋友 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？<span class="trans">Why hasn't your girlfriend arrived?</span>
+Aside from [[How to do something with "zenme"|just meaning "how,"]] 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
-* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 给 我 打 电话？<span class="trans">Why haven't you given me a call?</span>
-* 你 <em>怎么</em> 生气 了？<span class="trans">Why are you angry?</span>
+== Basic Usage ==
-* 你 <em>怎么</em> 不 喝酒？<span class="trans">Why don't you drink alcohol?</span>
-* 你 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 没 回家？<span class="trans">Why didn't you come home yesterday?</span>
+=== With a Verb ===
-* 你 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不 去 上班？<span class="trans">Why didn't you go to work today?</span>
-* 你 <em>怎么</em> 没 写 作业？<span class="trans">Why haven't you done your homework?</span>
+==== Structure ====
-</div>\r\n=== Structure with Adjective ===\r\nIn this case , you need some negative words after 怎么.\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words\r\n</div>\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 老师 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴？<span class="trans">Why isn't the teacher happy?</span>
-* 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 累？<span class="trans">Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?</span>
+Similar to the question word [[为什么]] (wèishénme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).
-* 妈妈 病 了，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？<span class="trans">Mom is sick, why are you not sad?</span>
-* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 不 甜？<span class="trans">Why isn't this apple sweet?</span>
+<div class="jiegou">
-* 你 买 的 肉 <em>怎么</em> 不 香？<span class="trans">Why is the meat you bought not appetizing?</span>
-* 这 个 孩子 <em>怎么</em> 不 害羞？<span class="trans">Why is this child not shy?</span>
+Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj. ?
-* 水 <em>怎么</em> 不 热？<span class="trans">Why is the water not hot?</span>
-* 这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣？<span class="trans">Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?</span>
+</div>
-* 今天 <em>怎么</em> 不冷？<span class="trans">Why isn't it cold today?</span>
-* 你们<em>怎么</em> 都 不 吃饭？<span class="trans">Why haven't you eaten?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== "Why so..." Usage ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nOne pattern this use of 怎么 frequently appears in is with 这么 or 那么.  (For more on 这么 and 那么, see [[adjectives with "name" and "zheme"]].)\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj\r\n</div>\r\nThis use of 怎么 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)?!''\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 这 个 苹果 <em>怎么</em> 这么 甜？<span class="trans">How can this apple be so sweet?</span>
+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.
-* 你 买 的 肉 <em>怎么</em> 这么 香？<span class="trans">How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?</span>
-* 水 <em>怎么</em> 这么 热？<span class="trans">How can the water be so hot?</span>
+==== Examples ====
-* 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 那么 辣？<span class="trans">How can Sichuan food be so spicy?</span>
-* 昨天 <em>怎么</em> 那么 冷？<span class="trans">How could it be so cold yesterday?</span>
+<div class="liju">
-* 以前 的 小孩 <em>怎么</em> 都 那么 矮？<span class="trans">How could the kids before be so small?</span>
-* 这 个 孩子 <em>怎么</em> 这么 害羞？<span class="trans">How can this little girl be so shy?</span>
+* 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>
-* 我 <em>怎么</em> 觉得 这么 累？<span class="trans">How can I feel this tired?</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 <em>怎么</em> 这么 难过？<span class="trans">How can you be feeling this bad?</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 <em>怎么</em> 那么 高 ？<span class="trans">How can you be so tall?</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>
-* 你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 那么 好？<span class="trans">How is your Chinese so good?</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>
-* 他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒 ？<span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n*[[Placement of question words]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 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]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
+* 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>
-{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么……？|你 <em>怎么</em> 没 来？|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}}
+</div>
+=== With an Adjective ===
+==== Structure ====
+In this case,  it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么 (zěnme).
+<div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.
+</div>
+==== Examples ====
+<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>
+* 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>
+* 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>
+* 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>
+== "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"|adjectives with "name" and "zheme."]])
+<div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 怎么 + 这么 / 那么 + Adj.
+</div>
+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 ===
+<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>
+* 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>
+* 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>
+* 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 Mandarin so good? </span>
+</div>
+==See also==
+*[[Placement of question words]]
+== Sources and further reading ==
+=== Books ===
+* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191}}
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|44}}
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|6}}
+[[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}}
 {{Rel char|这么}}
 {{Rel char|那么}}
+{{Similar|How to do something with "zenme"}}
 {{Similar|Placement of question words}}
 {{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}}

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

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

Contents

Basic Usage

With a Verb

Structure

Examples

With an Adjective

Structure

Examples

"Why So..." Usage

Structure

Examples

See also

Sources and further reading

Books