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  <title>Asking why with "zenme"</title>
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  <h1>Asking why with "<span class="pinyinst">zenme</span>" "<span class="hanzist">怎么</span>"</h1>

  <p>Aside from just meaning "how," <span class="hanzi">怎么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>) can also be used to ask "why" or "how come."</p>

  <h2 id="basic-usage">Basic Usage</h2>

  <h3 id="with-a-verb">With a Verb</h3>

  <h4 id="structure">Structure</h4>

  <p>Similar to the question word <span class="hanzi">为什么</span> (<span class="pinyin">wèishénme</span>), questions can also be asked with <span class="hanzi">怎么 </span>(<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>).</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">怎么</span> + Verb + Obj. ?</p>
  </div>

  <p>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.</p>

  <h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">他 怎么 还 没 来 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā zěnme hái méi lái?</span> <br/> How come he's not here yet?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你们 怎么 打 人？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐmen zěnme dǎ rén?</span> <br/> How can you hit people?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 帮 了 你，你 怎么 不 说 “谢谢” ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Tā bāng le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù shuō "xièxie"?</span> <br/> He helped you. How come you didn't say thank you?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 结婚 的时候 怎么 不 告诉 我？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiéhūn de shíhou zěnme bù gàosu wǒ?</span> <br/> How come you didn't tell me when you got married?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我们 还 没 开始 吃，他 怎么 已经 吃完 了？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen hái méi kāishǐ chī, tā zěnme yǐjīng chī wán le?</span> <br/> We haven't started eating yet. How come he has already finished eating?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">今天 是 星期一，你 怎么 不 去 上班？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Jīntiān shì Xīngqīyī, nǐ zěnme bù qù shàngbān?</span> <br/> Today is Monday. Why aren't you going to work?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="with-an-adjective">With an Adjective</h3>

  <h4 id="structure-1">Structure</h4>

  <p>In this case, it's most common to negate the adjective after <span class="hanzi">怎么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>).</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">怎么</span> (+ <span class="hanzist">不</span>) + Adj.</p>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">水 怎么 不 热？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Shuǐ zěnme bù rè?</span> <br/> Why is the water not hot?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这里 的 川菜 怎么 不 辣？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de chuāncài zěnme bù là?</span> <br/> Why is the Sichuan food here not spicy?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">他 亲 了 你，你 怎么 不 高兴 ？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā qīn le nǐ, nǐ zěnme bù gāoxìng?</span> <br/> He kissed you. How come you're not happy?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 的 小猫 死 了，她 怎么 不 难过？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Tā de xiǎomāo sǐ le, tā zěnme bù nánguò?</span> <br/> Her kitten died. Why isn't she sad?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">每 天 工作 十二 个 小时 ，你 怎么 不 累？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Měi tiān gōngzuò shí'èr gè xiǎoshí, nǐ zěnme bù lèi?</span> <br/> Every day you work 12 hours. Why are you not tired?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="why-so...-usage">"Why So..." Usage</h2>

  <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>

  <p>One pattern this use of <span class="hanzi">怎么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>) frequently appears in is with <span class="hanzi">这么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zhème</span>) or <span class="hanzi">那么 </span> <span class="pinyin">nàme</span>). (For more on <span class="hanzi">这么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zhème</span>) and <span class="hanzi">那么</span> (<span class="pinyin">nàme</span>), see adjectives with "<span class="pinyin">nàme</span>" and "<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>.")</p>

  <div class="deux">
    <p>Subj. + <span class="hanzist">怎么</span> + <span class="hanzist">这么</span> / <span class="hanzist">那么</span> + Adj.</p>
  </div>

  <p>This use of <span class="hanzi">怎么</span> (<span class="pinyin">zěnme</span>) could be translated as either "<b>how</b>" or "<b>why</b>"; 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)?!</p>

  <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">他 怎么 那么 懒？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Tā zěnme nàme lǎn?</span> <br/> How can he be this lazy?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">昨天 怎么 那么 冷？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān zěnme nàme lěng?</span> <br/> How could it be so cold yesterday?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这些人 怎么 这么 吵？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Zhèxiē rén zěnme zhème chǎo?</span> <br/> How can these people so loud?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">北京 的 空气 怎么 那么 差？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin"> Běijīng de kōngqì zěnme nàme chà?</span> <br/> How can the air in Beijing be so bad?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你的 汉语 怎么 这么 好？</span> <br/> <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de Hànyǔ zěnme zhème hǎo?</span> <br/> How is your Mandarin so good?</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="Placement_of_question_words" title="wikilink">Placement of question words</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 191)</li>
  </ul>
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