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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Asking why with "zenme"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Asking_why_with_%22zenme%22) (A2) - [Expressing "not often" with "bu zenme"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22not_often%22_with_%22bu_zenme%22) (B1)

Used for

[Adding more explanation](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adding_more_explanation)

Keywords

[不怎么](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%8D%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88), [不](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%8D), [怎么](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%80%8E%E4%B9%88)

Translations

[not very](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Not_very)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu.jpg](Expressing%20%22not%20very%22%20with%20%22bu%20zenme%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-bu.jpg)

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."

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")

Structure --------------------------------------------------------- When used together with an adjective, 不怎么 becomes similar to [不太](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_very%22_with_%22bu_tai%22), which means that the degree of the adjective is not very high.

Subj. + 不怎么 + Adj. / \[Psychological Verb\]

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 don't seem to be 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 bú 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 yì nián duō le, búguò *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."](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_often%22_with_%22bu_zenme%22) See also ------------------------------------------------------- - ["Not often" with "bu zenme"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Not_often%22_with_%22bu_zenme%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)](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)) (pp. 139) \[ →buy\] \

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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