Aside from [just meaning
"how,"](How_to_do_something_with_"zenme" "wikilink") 怎么 (zěnme) can
also be used to ask "why" or "how come."

Basic Usage
-----------

### With a Verb

#### Structure

Similar to the question word [为什么](为什么 "wikilink") (wèishénme),
questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj. ?

</div>
This has similar connotations to saying "how come" in English. It not
only asks why, but expresses some surprise at the situation, and in some
cases even disagreement with it.

#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他 <em>怎么</em> 还 没 来 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em>
    hái méi lái? </span><span class="trans">How come he's not here
    yet?</span>
-   你们 <em>怎么</em> 打 人？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em>
    dǎ rén? </span><span class="trans">How can you hit people? </span>
-   他 帮 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 说 “谢谢” ？<span class="pinyin">Tā
    bāng le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù shuō "xièxie"?
    </span><span class="trans">He helped you. How come you didn't say
    thank you? </span>
-   你 结婚 的时候 <em>怎么</em> 不 告诉 我？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    jiéhūn de shíhou <em>zěnme</em> bù gàosu wǒ?
    </span><span class="trans">How come you didn't tell me when you got
    married? </span>
-   我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 <em>怎么</em> 已经 吃完
    了？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā <em>zěnme</em>
    yǐjīng chī wán le? </span><span class="trans">We haven't started
    eating yet. How come he has already finished eating? </span>
-   今天 是 星期一，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 去
    上班？<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān shì Xīngqīyī, nǐ <em>zěnme</em>
    bù qù shàngbān? </span><span class="trans">Today is Monday. Why
    aren't you going to work? </span>

</div>
### With an Adjective

#### Structure

In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么
(zěnme).

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.

</div>
#### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   水 <em>怎么</em> 不 热？<span class="pinyin">Shuǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù
    rè? </span><span class="trans">Why is the water not hot? </span>
-   这里 的 川菜 <em>怎么</em> 不 辣？<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de
    chuāncài <em>zěnme</em> bù là? </span><span class="trans">Why is the
    Sichuan food here not spicy? </span>
-   他 亲 了 你，你 <em>怎么</em> 不 高兴 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā qīn
    le nǐ, nǐ <em>zěnme</em> bù gāoxìng? </span><span class="trans">He
    kissed you. How come you're not happy? </span>
-   她 的 小猫 死 了，她 <em>怎么</em> 不 难过？<span class="pinyin">Tā
    de xiǎomāo sǐ le, tā <em>zěnme</em> bù nánguò?
    </span><span class="trans">Her kitten died. Why isn't she sad?
    </span>
-   每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ，你 <em>怎么</em> 不
    累？<span class="pinyin">Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ
    <em>zěnme</em> bù lèi?</span><span class="trans">Every day you work
    12 hours. Why are you not tired? </span>

</div>
"Why So..." Usage
-----------------

### Structure

One pattern this use of 怎么 (zěnme) frequently appears in is with 这么
(zhème) or 那么 (nàme). (For more on 这么 (zhème) and 那么 (nàme), see
[adjectives with "name" and
"zheme."](adjectives_with_"name"_and_"zheme" "wikilink"))

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 怎么 + 这么 / 那么 + Adj.

</div>
This use of 怎么 (zěnme) could be translated as either "how" or "why";
the actual meaning sort of falls in the fuzzy region between the two. In
any case, it's used to express disbelief: *how can (something) be so
(adjective)?!*

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他 <em>怎么</em> 那么 懒？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zěnme</em>
    nàme lǎn? </span><span class="trans">How can he be this lazy?
    </span>
-   昨天 <em>怎么</em> 那么 冷？<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān
    <em>zěnme</em> nàme lěng? </span><span class="trans">How could it be
    so cold yesterday? </span>
-   这些人 <em>怎么</em> 这么 吵？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē rén
    <em>zěnme</em> zhème chǎo? </span><span class="trans">How can these
    people so loud? </span>
-   北京 的 空气 <em>怎么</em> 那么 差？<span class="pinyin">Běijīng de
    kōngqì <em>zěnme</em> nàme chà? </span><span class="trans">How can
    the air in Beijing be so bad? </span>
-   你的 汉语 <em>怎么</em> 这么 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ
    <em>zěnme</em> zhème hǎo? </span><span class="trans">How is your
    Mandarin so good? </span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Placement of question
    words](Placement_of_question_words "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    191)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")