Asking why with "zenme"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
Aside from just meaning "how," 怎么 (zěnme) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."
Contents
Basic Usage
Structure with Verb
Similar to the question word 为什么, questions can also be asked with 怎么.
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 haven't you 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?
Structure with Adjective
In this case , you need some negative words after 怎么.
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?
- 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 不 高？Why wasn't the kids tall before?
"Why so..." Usage
Structure
One 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".)
Subject + 怎么 + 这么/那么 + Adj
This 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)?!
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 this meat you bought be se 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
Sources and further reading
Books
