{{Grammar Box}} Aside from [[How to do something with "zenme"|just meaning "how,"]] 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]] (wèishénme), questions can also be asked with 怎么 (zěnme).
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb + Obj. ?
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 ====
* 他 怎么 还 没 来 ？Tā zěnme hái méi lái? How come he's not here yet? * 你们 怎么 打 人？Nǐmen zěnme dǎ rén? How can you hit people? * 他 帮 了 你，你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢” ？Tā bāng le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù shuō "xièxie"? He helped you. How come you didn't say thank you? * 你 结婚 的时候 怎么 不 告诉 我？Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhou zěnme bù gàosu wǒ? How come you didn't tell me when you got married? * 我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 怎么 已经 吃完 了？Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā zěnme yǐjīng chī wán le? We haven't started eating yet. How come he has already finished eating? * 今天 是 星期一，你 怎么 不 去 上班？Jīntiān shì Xīngqīyī, nǐ zěnme bù qù shàngbān? Today is Monday. Why aren't you going to work?
=== With an Adjective === ==== Structure ==== In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after 怎么 (zěnme).
Subj. + 怎么 (+ 不) + Adj.
==== Examples ====
* 水 怎么 不 热？Shuǐ zěnme bù rè? Why is the water not hot? * 这里 的 川菜 怎么 不 辣？Zhèlǐ de chuāncài zěnme bù là? Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy? * 他 亲 了 你，你 怎么 不 高兴 ？Tā qīn le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù gāoxìng? He kissed you. How come you're not happy? * 她 的 小猫 死 了，她 怎么 不 难过？Tā de xiǎomāo sǐ le, tā zěnme bù nánguò? Her kitten died. Why isn't she sad? * 每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ，你 怎么 不 累？Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ zěnme bù lèi?Every day you work 12 hours. Why are you not tired?
== "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."]])
Subj. + 怎么 + 这么 / 那么 + Adj.
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 ===
* 他 怎么 那么 懒？Tā zěnme nàme lǎn? How can he be this lazy? * 昨天 怎么 那么 冷？Zuótiān zěnme nàme lěng? How could it be so cold yesterday? * 这些人 怎么 这么 吵？Zhèxiē rén zěnme zhème chǎo? How can these people so loud? * 北京 的 空气 怎么 那么 差？Běijīng de kōngqì zěnme nàme chà? How can the air in Beijing be so bad? * 你的 汉语 怎么 这么 好？Nǐ de Hànyǔ zěnme zhème hǎo? How is your Mandarin so good?
==See also== *[[Placement of question words]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 191) [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 →buy] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|怎么|A2|怎么⋯⋯？|你 怎么 没 来？|grammar point|ASGD7NS3}} {{Rel char|这么}} {{Rel char|那么}} {{Similar|How to do something with "zenme"}} {{Similar|Placement of question words}} {{Similar|"Not often" with "bu zenme"}} {{Similar|"Not very" with "bu zenme"}} {{Used for|Asking questions}} {{Used for|Expressing attitude}} {{Used for|Exclaiming}} {{Translation|why}} {{Structure|Question Forms}}