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” ？ Nǐ zěnme bù shuō xièxiè? How come you didn't say thank you?
• 怎么 不 说话 ？ Zěnme bù shuōhuà? Why don't you speak?
• 你 女 朋友 怎么 没 来 ？ Nǐ nǚ péngyǒu zěnme méi lái? How come your girlfriend didn't come?
• 你 怎么 没 给 我 打 电话 ？ Nǐ zěnme méi gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà? How come you didn't call me?
• 你 怎么 生气 了 ？ Nǐ zěnme shēngqì le? Why are you angry?
• 你 怎么 不 喝酒 ？ Nǐ zěnme bù hējiǔ? How come you're not drinking?
• 你 昨天 怎么 没 回家 ？ Nǐ zuótiān zěnme méi huíjiā? Why didn't you come home yesterday?
• 你 今天 怎么 不 去 上班 ？ Nǐ jīntiān zěnme bù qù shàngbān? Why didn't you go to work today?
• 你 怎么 没 写 作业 ？ Nǐ zěnme méi xiě zuòyè? 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 ？ Lǎoshī zěnme bù gāoxìng? How come the teacher is unhappy?
• 每 天 工作 十 二 个 小时 ， 你 怎么 不 累 ？ Měi tiān gōngzuò shí-èr ge xiǎoshí, nǐ zěnme bù lèi? Everyday you work 12 hours, why are you not tired?
• 妈妈 病 了 ， 你 怎么 不 难过 ？ Māma bìng le, nǐ zěnme bù nánguò? Mom is sick, why are you not sad?
• 这 个 苹果 怎么 不 甜 ？ Zhè gè píngguǒ zěnme bù tián? Why isn't this apple sweet?
• 你 买 的 肉 怎么 不 香 ？ Nǐ mǎi de ròu zěnme bù xiāng? Why is the meat you bought not appetizing?
• 这 个 孩子 怎么 不 害羞 ？ Zhè gè háizi zěnme bù hàixiū? Why is this child not shy?
• 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?
• 今天 怎么 不 冷 ？ Jīntiān zěnme bù lěng? How is it not cold today?
• 你们 怎么 不 开心 ？ Nǐmen zěnme bù kāixīn? Why are you guys unhappy?

"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").

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 ？ Zhè gè píngguǒ zěnme zhème tián? How can this apple be so sweet?
• 你 买 的 肉 怎么 这么 香 ？ Nǐ mǎi de ròu zěnme zhème xiāng? How can the meat you bought be so appetizing?
• 水 怎么 这么 热 ？ Shuǐ zěnme zhème rè? How can the water be so hot?
• 川菜 怎么 那么 辣 ？ Chuāncài zěnme nàme là? How can Sichuan food be so spicy?
• 昨天 怎么 那么 冷 ？ Zuótiān zěnme nàme lěng? How could it be so cold yesterday?
• 以前 的 小孩 怎么 都 那么 矮 ？ Yǐqián de xiǎohái zěnme dōu nàme ǎi? How could the kids before be so small?
• 这 个 孩子 怎么 这么 害羞 ？ Zhè gè háizi zěnme zhème hàixiū? How can this little girl be so shy?
• 我 怎么 觉得 这么 累 ？ Wǒ zěnme juéde zhème lèi? How can I feel this tired?
• 你 怎么 这么 难过 ？ Nǐ zěnme zhème nánguò? How can you be feeling this bad?
• 他 怎么 那么 高 ？ Tā zěnme nàme gāo? How can you be so tall?
• 你的 汉语 怎么 那么 好 ？ Nǐde Hànyǔ zěnme nàme hǎo? How is your Chinese so good?
• 他 怎么 那么 懒 ？ Tā zěnme nàme lǎn? 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