Introduction
怎么 (zěnme) asks how you do something — the method. It goes straight in front of the verb: 这个字怎么写？(Zhège zì zěnme xiě?) — How do you write this character? Drop the verb and the sentence breaks, which is the one thing that separates it from 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng).
Overview
Structure: Subj. + 怎么 (zěnme) + Verb (+ Obj.) ?
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + 怎么 + V | 这个字怎么写？(Zhège zì zěnme xiě?) | How do you write this character? |
| 怎么 + 去 + Place | 你怎么去学校？(Nǐ zěnme qù xuéxiào?) | How do you get to school? |
| 怎么说 | 这个用中文怎么说？(Zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?) | How do you say this in Chinese? |
| 怎么 + 了 | 你怎么了？(Nǐ zěnme le?) | What's wrong? |
| 怎么 + 不 + V（surprise） | 你怎么不吃？(Nǐ zěnme bù chī?) | How come you're not eating? |
怎么 (zěnme) or 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng)?
- 怎么 (zěnme) asks the method and must be followed by a verb: 这个菜怎么做？(Zhège cài zěnme zuò?) — How do you cook this dish?
- 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) asks about quality and stands at the end, verb or no verb: 这个菜怎么样？(Zhège cài zěnmeyàng?) — How's this dish?
- ❌ 这个菜怎么？(Zhège cài zěnme?) — 怎么 cannot end a sentence on its own.
- 怎么了？(Zěnme le?) is the exception, and it is a fixed phrase meaning "what's up?"
Examples
这个字怎么写？
Zhège zì zěnme xiě?
How do you write this character?
你怎么去学校？
Nǐ zěnme qù xuéxiào?
How do you get to school?
这个用中文怎么说？
Zhège yòng Zhōngwén zěnme shuō?
How do you say this in Chinese?
你怎么了？
Nǐ zěnme le?
What's wrong?
去火车站怎么走？
Qù huǒchēzhàn zěnme zǒu?
How do I get to the station?
你怎么不吃饭？
Nǐ zěnme bù chī fàn?
How come you're not eating?
Usage Notes
- 怎么 (zěnme) is already a question, so no 吗 (ma). ❌ 这个字怎么写吗？(Zhège zì zěnme xiě ma?)
- 怎么走 (zěnme zǒu) — "how do I get there" — is the single most useful phrase in this lesson: 去机场怎么走？(Qù jīchǎng zěnme zǒu?)
- In front of a negative, 怎么 (zěnme) stops asking about method and starts expressing surprise: 你怎么不来？(Nǐ zěnme bù lái?) — How come you're not coming? Compare the neutral 为什么 (wèishénme).
- 你怎么了？(Nǐ zěnme le?) asks what has happened to someone — concern, not method.
- 怎么 (zěnme) is 3rd tone plus neutral: zěnme. The 么 (me) is the same light syllable as in 什么 (shénme).