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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'so what' with 怎样 (zěnyàng)

    Emphasis
    Questions

    Structure

    那又怎样?

    Explanation

    The phrase 那又怎样 uses 怎样 (zěnyàng) to express a dismissive 'so what?' attitude. While 怎样 on its own means 'how' or 'what kind,' in the fixed expression 那又怎样 it conveys indifference or defiance, similar to saying 'what of it?' in English.

    Examples

    • 他不同意你的看法,那又怎样?

      tā bù tóngyì nǐ de kànfǎ, nà yòu zěnyàng?

      He doesn't agree with your view — so what?

    • 就算我迟到了,那又怎样,会议还没开始呢。

      jiùsuàn wǒ chídào le, nà yòu zěnyàng, huìyì hái méi kāishǐ ne.

      Even if I was late, so what? The meeting hadn't started yet.

    • 别人都不看好我们,那又怎样?

      biéren dōu bù kànhǎo wǒmen, nà yòu zěnyàng?

      Nobody else believes in us — so what?

    Expressing 'so what' with 怎样 (zěnyàng) | Chinese Grammar