Difference between revisions of "How to do something with "zenme""
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| + | A primer on how to use 怎么. | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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| − | * <em>怎么</em> 去？ | + | * <em>怎么</em> 去？<span class="trans">How do you get there?</span> |
| − | * 中文 <em>怎么</em> 说 "apple"？ | + | * 中文 <em>怎么</em> 说 "apple"？<span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span> |
| − | * <em>怎么</em> 用 筷子 吃饭？ | + | * <em>怎么</em> 用 筷子 吃饭？<span class="trans">How do you use chopstick to eat?</span> |
| − | * <em>怎么</em> 做饭？ | + | * <em>怎么</em> 做饭？<span class="trans">How do you cook?</span> |
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走？ | + | * <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走？<span class="trans">How do you get to the supermarket?</span> |
| − | * <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃？ | + | * <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃？<span class="trans">How do you eat mangoes?</span> |
| − | * <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用？ | + | * <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用？<span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span> |
| − | * <strong>太极拳</strong> <em>怎么</em> 打？ | + | * <strong>太极拳</strong> <em>怎么</em> 打？<span class="trans">How do you do Tai-chi?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 06:24, 28 January 2013
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Keywords
A primer on how to use 怎么.
Contents
Structure
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:
Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object
Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions.
examples
- 怎么 去？How do you get there?
- 中文 怎么 说 "apple"？How do you say "apple" in Chinese?
- 怎么 用 筷子 吃饭？How do you use chopstick to eat?
- 怎么 做饭？How do you cook?
Topic first
Starting a "how to" question with the topic 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:
Topic + 怎么 + Verb
examples
- 超市 怎么 走？How do you get to the supermarket?
- 芒果 怎么 吃？How do you eat mangoes?
- iPad 怎么 用？How do you use an iPad?
- 太极拳 怎么 打？How do you do Tai-chi?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 651-2) →buy
182－184
