How to do something with "zenme"
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Keywords
怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all. Learn how to use it here!
Contents
The Basic "How to Verb" Something
Structure
The question word 怎么 (zěnme) is used to ask how in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that's being asked about:
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj.
Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.
Examples
- 你们 怎么 学 中文？How do you study Chinese?
- 你 怎么 上班？坐 地铁 吗？How do you get to work? By metro?
- 你 知道 怎么 去 外滩 吗？Do you know how to get to the bond?
- 你 怎么 知道 我 喜欢 旅行？How did you know I like to travel?
- 我 不 知道 怎么 跟 女孩子 说话。I don't know how to talk to girls.
Topic First
Starting a "how to" question with the topic at the beginning of the question 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.
Structure
Topic + 怎么 + Verb
The object doesn't have to come after the verb. Sometimes it moves to the front of the question, establishing what the question is going to be about, before getting specific with the "how" question.
Examples
- 超市 怎么 走？How do you get to the supermarket?
- 芒果 怎么 吃？How do you eat mangos?
- iPad 怎么 用？How do you use an iPad?
- 太极拳 怎么 打？How do you do tai chi?
- "apple" 用 中文 怎么 说？How do you say "apple" in Chinese?
- 用 手机 怎么 上网？How do you use a cell phone to get on the internet?
- 语法 怎么 学 ？How do you study grammar?
- 我 喜欢 旅游， 你 怎么 知道 ？How did you know I like to travel?
- 中国 菜 怎么 做？How do you cook Chinese food?
- 这么 多 苹果 怎么 吃 ？How do you eat so many apples?
See also
Sources and further reading
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 191) →buy
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 651-2) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 163) →buy
