Asking why with "zenme"

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

Basic Usage

With Verb

Structure

Similar to the question word 为什么 (wèishéme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).

Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object ?

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

• 你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢”？Why don't you say "thanks"?
• 怎么 不 说话？Why don't you speak?
• 你 女 朋友 怎么 没 来？Why hasn't your girlfriend arrived?
• 你 怎么 没 给 我 打 电话？Why haven't you given me a call?
• 你 怎么 生气 了？Why are you angry?
• 你 怎么 不 喝酒？Why don't you drink alcohol?
• 你 昨天 怎么 没 回家？Why didn't you come home yesterday?
• 你 今天 怎么 不 去 上班？Why didn't you go to work today?
• 你 怎么 没 写 作业？Why haven't you done your homework?

With Adjective

Structure

In this case, you need some negative words after 怎么 (zěnme).

Subject + 怎么 + Negative Adjective Words

Examples

• 老师 怎么 不 高兴？Why isn't the teacher happy?
• 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时，你 怎么 不 累？Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?
• 妈妈 病 了，你 怎么 不 难过？Mom is sick, why are you not sad?
• 这 个 苹果 怎么 不 甜？Why isn't this apple sweet?
• 你 买 的 肉 怎么 不 香？Why is the meat you bought not appetizing?
• 这 个 孩子 怎么 不 害羞？Why is this child not shy?
• 水 怎么 不 热？Why is the water not hot?
• 这里 的 川菜 怎么 不 辣？Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?
• 今天 怎么 不 冷？Why isn't it cold today?
• 你们 怎么 不 开心？Why are you not happy?

"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, see adjectives with "name" and "zheme".)

Subject + 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

• 这 个 苹果 怎么 这么 甜？How can this apple be so sweet?
• 你 买 的 肉 怎么 这么 香？How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?
• 水 怎么 这么 热？How can the water be so hot?
• 川菜 怎么 那么 辣？How can Sichuan food be so spicy?
• 昨天 怎么 那么 冷？How could it be so cold yesterday?
• 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 那么 矮？How could the kids before be so small?
• 这 个 孩子 怎么 这么 害羞？How can this little girl be so shy?
• 我 怎么 觉得 这么 累？How can I feel this tired?
• 你 怎么 这么 难过？How can you be feeling this bad?
• 他 怎么 那么 高 ？How can you be so tall?
• 你的 汉语 怎么 那么 好？How is your Chinese so good?
• 他 怎么 那么 懒 ？How can he be this lazy?

See also

• Placement of question words

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 191) →buy