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 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

最近 不怎么 忙。Zuìjìn bù zěnme máng.It hasn't been very busy lately.
这里的冬天 不怎么 冷。Zhèlǐ de dōngtiān bù zěnme lěng.It's not very cold here in winter.
他们好像 不怎么 高兴。Tāmen hǎoxiàng bù zěnme gāoxìng.They seem not very happy.
这个学生 不怎么 努力。Zhège xuéshēng bù zěnme nǔlì.This student isn't very hard-working.
那家餐厅 不怎么 干净。Nà jiā cāntīng bù zěnme gānjìng.That restaurant isn't very clean.
这个老师 不怎么 专业。Zhège lǎoshī bù zěnme zhuānyè.This teacher isn't very professional.
你是不是昨天睡得 不怎么 好？Nǐ shì bu shì zuótiān shuì de bù zěnme hǎo?Did you not sleep very well last night?
我 不怎么 喜欢咖啡。Wǒ bù zěnme xǐhuan kāfēi.I'm not very into coffee.
他跟他父母长得 不怎么 像。Tā gēn tā fùmǔ zhǎng de bù zěnme xiàng.He and his parents don't look very much alike.
他去美国一年多了，不过 不怎么 想家。Tā qù Měiguó yī nián duō le, bùguò bù zěnme xiǎngjiā.He's been in America for more than one year, but he's not very homesick.

Remember that to make 不怎么 mean "not very" use it with an adjective. Using it with a verb will give it the meaning of "not often."

Structure

Examples

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books