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    Chinese Grammar

    Asking 'how' or 'what to do' with 怎么 (zěnme)

    Manner & Method
    Questions

    Structure

    Subject + 怎么 + Verb

    Explanation

    The interrogative word 怎么 (zěnme) means 'how' or 'what to do' and is one of the most frequently used question words in Chinese. It is placed before a verb to ask about the manner or method of an action, and can also express surprise or disbelief in rhetorical questions.

    Examples

    • 这道题我不会做，你能告诉我怎么做吗？

      zhè dào tí wǒ bù huì zuò, nǐ néng gàosù wǒ zěnme zuò ma?

      I don't know how to solve this problem — can you tell me how?

    • 你怎么现在才来？我们等你好久了。

      nǐ zěnme xiànzài cái lái? wǒmen děng nǐ hǎo jiǔ le.

      Why are you only coming now? We've been waiting for you for a long time.

    • 这个软件怎么用？我刚下载的。

      zhège ruǎnjiàn zěnme yòng? wǒ gāng xiàzài de.

      How do you use this software? I just downloaded it.

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    Asking 'how' or 'what to do' with 怎么 (zěnme) | Chinese Grammar