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 cōngmíng) you can say "他不怎么聪明" (tā bù zě me cōngmíng), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement.
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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 zě me cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==

Revision as of 08:59, 11 August 2015

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.

Object + 不怎么 + adjective

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 zě me cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement.

Examples

  • 这个 人 不怎么 好。Zhège rén bù zě me hǎo.This person isn't very good.
  • 我 觉得 这个 菜 不怎么 好吃。Wǒ juédé zhège cài bù zě me hào chī.I think this food isn't very tasty.
  • 你的 孩子 不怎么 可爱。Nǐ de háizi bù zě me kě'ài.Your child isn't very cute.
  • 工作 进行 得 不怎么 顺利。Gōngzuò jìnxíng dé bù zě me shùnlì.The work wasn't carried out very smoothly.

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