Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not very" with "bu zenme""
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Using this grammar structure is a way to indirectly or mildly state something. Instead of saying "他不聪明" (tā bù cōngming) you can say "他不怎么聪明" (tā bù zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement. | Using this grammar structure is a way to indirectly or mildly state something. Instead of saying "他不聪明" (tā bù cōngming) you can say "他不怎么聪明" (tā bù zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement. | ||
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 觉得 这个 菜 <em>不 怎么</em> 好吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juédé zhège cài <em>bù zěnme</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">I think this food isn't very tasty | + | *我 觉得 这个 菜 <em>不 怎么</em> 好吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juédé zhège cài <em>bù zěnme</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">I think this food isn't very tasty.</span> |
| − | + | *这里 的 冬天 <em>不 怎么</em> 冷。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de dōngtiān <em>bù zěnme</em> lěng.</span><span class="trans">It's not very cold here in winter.</span> | |
| − | * 这里 的 冬天 <em>不 怎么</em> 冷。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de dōngtiān <em>bù zěnme</em> lěng.</span><span class="trans">It's not very cold here in winter.</span> | + | *他们 好像 <em>不 怎么</em> 高兴。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen hǎoxiàng <em>bù zěnme</em> gāoxìng.</span><span class="trans">They seem not very happy.</span> |
| − | * | + | *这 个 学生 <em>不 怎么</em> 努力。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng <em>bù zěnme</em> nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">This student isn't very hard-working.</span> |
| − | + | *她 家 <em>不 怎么</em> 干净。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā <em>bù zěnme</em> gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">Her house isn't very clean.</span> | |
| − | |||
| − | * 这 个 学生 <em>不 怎么</em> 努力。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng <em>bù zěnme</em> nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">This student isn't very hard-working.</span> | ||
| − | * | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 03:16, 23 August 2017
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Keywords
When you use 不怎么 (bù zěnme) before an adjective, it means "not very." This structure is similar to how English speakers may say something is "not very good."
Structure
When used together with an adjective, 不怎么 becomes similar to 不太, which means that the degree of the adjective is not very high.
Subj. + 不怎么 + Adj.
Using this grammar structure is a way to indirectly or mildly state something. Instead of saying "他不聪明" (tā bù cōngming) you can say "他不怎么聪明" (tā bù zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement.
Examples
- 我 觉得 这个 菜 不 怎么 好吃。I think this food isn't very tasty.
- 这里 的 冬天 不 怎么 冷。It's not very cold here in winter.
- 他们 好像 不 怎么 高兴。They seem not very happy.
- 这 个 学生 不 怎么 努力。This student isn't very hard-working.
- 她 家 不 怎么 干净。Her house isn't very clean.
Remember that to make 不怎么 mean "not very" use it with an adjective. Using it with a verb will give it the meaning of "not often."
See Also
Sources and further reading
Books
