When you use 不怎么 (bù zěnme) before an adjective, it means "not very." This structure is similar to how English speakers may say something is "not very good." == Structure == When used together with an adjective, 不怎么 becomes similar to [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_very%22_with_%22bu_tai%22 不太], which means that the degree of the adjective is not very high. Using this grammar structure is a way to indirectly or mildly state something. Instead of saying 他不聪明 (tā bù cōngming) you can say 他不怎么聪明 (tā bù zěnme cōngming), turning a very direct statement to a milder, more wayward statement. == Examples == Remember that to make 不怎么 mean "not very" use it with an adjective. Using it with a verb will give it [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_often%22_with_%22bu_zenme%22 the meaning of "not often."] == See also == * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_often%22_with_%22bu_zenme%22 "Not often" with "bu zenme"] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Short-term_Spoken_Chinese:_Elementary_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%8F%A3%E8%AF%AD%E9%80%9F%E6%88%90%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E7%AF%87) Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)] (pp. 139) [ →buy]