Difference between revisions of "How to do something with "zenme""

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{{Grammar Box}} \r\n怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all.  Learn how to use "how" here!\r\n== The Basic "How to Verb" Something ==\r\n=== Structure ===\r\nThe question word 怎么 is used to ask ''how'' in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that's being asked about:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 怎么 + Verb + Object\r\n</div>\r\nNote that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <em>怎么</em> 去?<span class="expl">(Literally: "how go"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you get there?</span>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all.  Learn how to use "how" here!
 +
 
 +
== The Basic "How to Verb" Something ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
 +
 
 +
The question word 怎么 is used to ask ''how'' in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that's being asked about:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <em>怎么</em> 去?<span class="expl">(Literally: "how go"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you get there?</span>
 
* 用中文 <em>怎么</em> 说 "apple"?<span class="expl">(Literally: "Chinese how say 'apple'"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span>
 
* 用中文 <em>怎么</em> 说 "apple"?<span class="expl">(Literally: "Chinese how say 'apple'"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you say "apple" in Chinese?</span>
 
* <em>怎么</em> 用 筷子 吃饭?<span class="expl">(Literally: "how use chopsticks eat (rice)"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you use chopstick to eat?</span>
 
* <em>怎么</em> 用 筷子 吃饭?<span class="expl">(Literally: "how use chopsticks eat (rice)"?)</span><span class="trans">How do you use chopstick to eat?</span>
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* 你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 我 喜欢 旅游?<span class="trans">How do you know I like to swim?</span>
 
* 你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 我 喜欢 旅游?<span class="trans">How do you know I like to swim?</span>
 
* 我们 应该 <em>怎么</em> 告诉 他?<span class="trans">How should we tell him?</span>
 
* 我们 应该 <em>怎么</em> 告诉 他?<span class="trans">How should we tell him?</span>
* <em>怎么</em> 追 女孩子?<span class="trans">How do you run after girls?</span>\r\n</div>\r\n== Topic First ==\r\nStarting a "how to" question with the [[Topic-comment sentences|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.\r\n=== Structure ===\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\nTopic + 怎么 + Verb\r\n</div>\r\nThe 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.\r\n=== Examples ===\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走?<span class="trans">How do you get to the supermarket?</span>
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* <em>怎么</em> 追 女孩子?<span class="trans">How do you run after girls?</span>
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 +
</div>
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== Topic First ==
 +
 
 +
Starting a "how to" question with the [[Topic-comment sentences|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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
Topic + 怎么 + Verb
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
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 ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* <strong>超市</strong> <em>怎么</em> 走?<span class="trans">How do you get to the supermarket?</span>
 
* <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃?<span class="trans">How do you eat mangoes?</span>
 
* <strong>芒果</strong> <em>怎么</em> 吃?<span class="trans">How do you eat mangoes?</span>
 
* <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用?<span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span>
 
* <strong>iPad</strong> <em>怎么</em> 用?<span class="trans">How do you use an iPad?</span>
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* 我 喜欢 旅游 你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 ?<span class="trans"></span>
 
* 我 喜欢 旅游 你 <em>怎么</em> 知道 ?<span class="trans"></span>
 
* 女孩子<em>怎么</em> 追?<span class="trans"></span>
 
* 女孩子<em>怎么</em> 追?<span class="trans"></span>
* 这么 多 苹果 怎么 吃 ?<span class="trans"></span>\r\n</div>\r\n== See also ==\r\n*[[Placement of question words]]
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* 这么 多 苹果 怎么 吃 ?<span class="trans"></span>
*[[Asking questions]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl →buy]
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</div>
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== See also ==
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*[[Placement of question words]]
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*[[Asking questions]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl →buy]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
* [[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  (pp. 651-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]\r\n{{Used for|Asking questions}}
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* [[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  (pp. 651-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Used for|Asking questions}}
 
182-184
 
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{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + V ?|<em>怎么</em> 去 ?|grammar point|ASGH2MNO}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|怎么|A1|怎么 + V ?|<em>怎么</em> 去 ?|grammar point|ASGH2MNO}}

Revision as of 09:06, 26 November 2013

怎么 (zěnme) means "how" in Chinese, and it's not hard to use at all. Learn how to use "how" here!

The Basic "How to Verb" Something

Structure

The question word 怎么 is used to ask how in Chinese. It is inserted in front of the verb that's being asked about:

Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object

Note that the subject can often be omitted from general "how to" questions, and there doesn't always have to be an object.

Examples

  • 怎么 去?(Literally: "how go"?)How do you get there?
  • 用中文 怎么 说 "apple"?(Literally: "Chinese how say 'apple'"?)How do you say "apple" in Chinese?
  • 怎么 用 筷子 吃饭?(Literally: "how use chopsticks eat (rice)"?)How do you use chopstick to eat?
  • 怎么 做饭?(Literally: "how cook (rice)"?)How do you cook?
  • 怎么 上班?坐 地铁 吗?How do you go to work? By subway?
  • 怎么 学 中文?How do you study Chinese?
  • 你 知道 怎么 用 手机 上网 吗?Do you know how to use the cellphone internet?
  • 怎么 学 语法?How do you study grammar?
  • 怎么 知道 我 喜欢 旅游?How do you know I like to swim?
  • 我们 应该 怎么 告诉 他?How should we tell him?
  • 怎么 追 女孩子?How do you run after 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 mangoes?
  • 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?
  • 你 知道 用 手机 怎么 上网 吗?
  • 语法 怎么 学 ?
  • 我 喜欢 旅游 你 怎么 知道 ?
  • 女孩子怎么 追?
  • 这么 多 苹果 怎么 吃 ?

See also

Sources and further reading

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