HSK Guide

怎么怎麼 zěnme — how (in what way)

zěnme (third tone, dipping)zen3me5

Traditional: 怎麼

how (in what way)

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardpronoun
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Meanings

  1. how (in what way)

    Asks about manner or method, and stands directly before the verb: 怎么写, 怎么去, 怎么说. It is one of the few question words that comes before what it asks about.

    pronoun

  2. why, how come

    pronoun

    With this sense 怎么 carries surprise: 你怎么不吃饭？ is closer to "how come you’re not eating?" than to a neutral "why".

Example sentences

  • 这个字怎么读？這個字怎麼讀？Zhège (fourth tone, falling) zì (fourth tone, falling) zěnme (third tone, dipping) dú? (second tone, rising)···

    How do you read this character?

  • 我们怎么去火车站？我們怎麼去火車站？Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) zěnme (third tone, dipping) qù (fourth tone, falling) huǒchēzhàn? (third tone, dipping)···

    How do we get to the station?

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