Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not very" with "bu zenme""

Line 43: Line 43:
 
* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (pp. 139) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00326U9MS/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00326U9MS →buy]
 
* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (pp. 139) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00326U9MS/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00326U9MS →buy]
  
{{Basic Grammar|不怎么|B1|不怎么 + Adj|这里 的 菜 他 <em>不怎么 好吃</em> !|grammar point|ASGVYIZT}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|不怎么|B1|不怎么 + Adj.|这里 的 菜 他 <em>不怎么 好吃</em> !|grammar point|ASGVYIZT}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Rel char|不}}
 
{{Rel char|怎么}}
 
{{Rel char|怎么}}
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
{{POS|Adjectives}}
 
{{POS|Adjectives}}

Revision as of 06:55, 27 October 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 zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement.

Examples

  • 这个 人 不怎么 好。Zhè ge rén bù zěnme hǎo.This person isn't very good.
  • 我 觉得 这个 菜 不怎么 好吃。Wǒ juédé zhè ge cài bù zěnme hǎochī.I think this food isn't very tasty.
  • 你的 孩子 不怎么 可爱。Nǐ de háizi bù zěnme kě'ài.Your child isn't very cute.
  • 工作 进行 得 不怎么 顺利。Gōngzuò jìnxíng dé bù zěnme 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