Expressing "not often" with "bu zenme"

You might be tempted to conclude that 不怎么 (bù zěnme) seems to mean "not how," but it actually means "not often" when used together with a verb.

Structure

When 不怎么 is used with a verb, it means that one does not put a lot of time or energy into doing it. In other words, the action is done "not often." When the verb is used with an object, it also means that the number (or quantity) is really small.

Examples

他不怎么爱说话。 Tā bù zěnme ài shuōhuà. He doesn't like talking too much.
我老公不怎么运动。 Wǒ lǎogōng bù zěnme yùndòng. My husband doesn't exercise very often.
我们在家不怎么看电视。 Wǒmen zài jiā bù zěnme kàn diànshì. We don't watch a lot of television at home.
我儿子不怎么吃零食。 Wǒ érzi bùzěnme chī língshí. My son doesn't eat snacks very often.
老板不怎么来办公室。 Lǎobǎn bù zěnme lái bàngōngshì. My boss doesn't come to the office very often.
我不怎么在网上买东西。 Wǒ bù zěnme zài wǎngshàng mǎi dóngxi. I don't online shop very often.
他们不怎么跟朋友出去玩。 Tāmen bù zěnme gēn péngyou chūqù wán. They don't often go out and have fun with friends.

Usage of 没怎么

Note that the examples below use 没 instead of 不. This is because the verb uses or implies 有 and thus it uses the same the 有 negation rules.

我没怎么复习。 Wǒ méi zěnme fùxí. I didn't review much.
我没怎么想过这个问题。 Wǒ méi zěnme xiǎng guo zhège wèntí. I didn't really think about this before.
昨天我肚子不舒服，没怎么吃东西。 Zuótiān wǒ dùzi bù shūfu, méi zěnme chī dōngxi. My stomach didn't feel well yesterday, so I didn't eat much.

Lastly, make sure to use 不怎么 with a verb if you want it to mean "not often." Using it with an adjective gives it a different meaning.

Expressing "not often" with "bu zenme"

Contents

Structure

Examples

Usage of 没怎么

See also

Sources and further reading

Books