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 说话。Tā bù zěnme xǐhuan shuōhuà.He doesn't like talking too much.
我老公 不怎么 做饭。Wǒ lǎogōng bù zěnme zuòfàn.My husband doesn't cook very often.
我们 不怎么 看电视。Wǒmen bù zěnme kàn diànshì.We don't watch a lot of television.
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.
你好像 不怎么 喝酒。Nǐ hǎoxiàng bù zěnme hējiǔ.It seems that you don't drink very often.
我同事 不怎么 去健身。Wǒ tóngshì bù zěnme qù jiànshēn.My colleagues don't go to the gym.
新室友 不怎么 跟朋友出去玩。Xīn shìyǒu bù zěnme gēn péngyou chūqù wán.The new roommate doesn't go out and have fun with her friends very often.

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.

他 没怎么 说话。Tā méi zěnme shuōhuà.He didn't say much.
我 没怎么 复习。Wǒ méi zěnme fùxí.I didn't review much.
开会的时候，我们 没怎么 讨论这件事。Kāihuì de shíhou, wǒmen méi zěnme tǎolùn zhè jiàn shì.We didn't discuss this matter much when we were at the meeting.
昨天我肚子不舒服，没怎么 吃东西。Zuótiān wǒ dùzi bù shūfu, méi zěnme chī dōngxi.I didn't feel well in the stomach yesterday, so I didn't eat much.
今天很热，不过我 没怎么 出汗。Jīntiān hěn rè, bùguò wǒ méi zěnme chūhàn.It's hot today, but I didn't sweat 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.

Structure

Examples

Usage of 没怎么

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books