How common it is
怎么 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say zěnme slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
“怎么”常用来询问方式或原因。例如，你想知道某事的方式或为什么发生某事时，可以用这个词。
zěnme cháng lái qǐng wèn fāngshì huò qíngyùn. rúguǒ nǐ xiǎng zhīdào mǒu shì de fāngshì huò shénme yǐhòu fāshēng mǒu shì, kěyǐ yòng cǐ gè cí。
“怎么” is often used to ask about methods or reasons. For example, if you want to know how something happens or why something occurs, you can use this word.
Context note
这个词常用于日常生活中的对话，比如询问路线、原因或方法。
zhè gè cí cháng yòng yú rìjīng shēnghuó zhōng de huàdào, bǐrú xúnwèn lùlàn, yuányīn huò fāngfǎ.
This word is commonly used in everyday conversations, such as asking about directions, reasons, or methods.
5 examples
你怎么去学校？
nǐ zěn me qù xué xiào？
How do you go to school?
怎么了，你生病了吗？
zěn me le， nǐ shēng bìng le ma？
What's wrong? Are you sick?
这个玩具多少钱？怎么卖的？
zhè ge wán jù duō shǎo qián？ zěn me mài de？
How much is this toy? How do you sell it?
你怎么知道的？
nǐ zěn me zhī dào de？
How do you know that?
这道题怎么做？
zhè dào tí zěn me zuò？
How do I solve this problem?
5 mini stories
妈妈问儿子：你怎么不去上学了？儿子说：今天下雨，怎么去学校？
mā ma wèn ér zǐ： nǐ zěn me bú qù shàng xué le？ ér zi shuō： jīn tiān xià yǔ， zěn me qù xué xiào？
The mother asked the son: Why aren't you going to school today? The son said: It's raining, how do I go to school?
爸爸问女儿：你怎么不吃早饭？女儿说：我不饿，怎么吃？
bà bà wèn nǚ ér： nǐ zěn me bù chī zǎo fàn？ nǚ ér shuō： wǒ bú è， zěn me chī？
The father asked the daughter: Why aren't you eating breakfast? The daughter said: I'm not hungry, how should I eat it?
老师问学生：你怎么没交作业？学生说：我忘记带了，怎么补交？
lǎo shī wèn xué shēng： nǐ zěn me méi jiāo zuò yè？ xué shēng shuō： wǒ wàng jì dài le， zěn me bǔ jiāo？
The teacher asked the student: Why didn't you hand in your homework? The student said: I forgot to bring it, how do I make up for it?
朋友问你：你怎么不去公园玩？你说：今天下雨，怎么去公园？
péng yǒu wèn nǐ： nǐ zěn me bú qù gōng yuán wán？ nǐ shuō： jīn tiān xià yǔ， zěn me qù gōng yuán？
A friend asked you: Why aren't you going to the park? You said: It's raining, how do I go to the park?
同学问你：你怎么没来上课？你说：我生病了，怎么请假？
tóng xué wèn nǐ： nǐ zěn me méi lái shàng kè？ nǐ shuō： wǒ shēng bìng le， zěn me qǐng jià？
A classmate asked you: Why didn't you come to class today? You said: I'm sick, how do I take a leave of absence?