怎麼(chiefly Mandarin)

1. how

   北京怎麼去？／北京怎么去？  ― Běijīngzěnme qù?  ― How do you get to Beijing?

   「動人」用英文怎麼說？[MSC,trad.]
   「动人」用英文怎么说？[MSC,simp.]

   “Dòngrén” yòng yīngwénzěnme shuō?[Pinyin]

   How do you saydòngrén in English?

   這是怎麼回事呀？[MSC,trad.]
   这是怎么回事呀？[MSC,simp.]

   Zhè shìzěnme huí shì ya?[Pinyin]

   How did this happen?

   怎麼會這樣呢？／怎么会这样呢？  ― Zěnme huì zhèyàng ne?  ― How could that be?

2. how come;why

   他今天怎麼沒來上學？[MSC,trad.]
   他今天怎么没来上学？[MSC,simp.]

   Tā jīntiānzěnme méi lái shàngxué?[Pinyin]

   How come he didn't come to school today?

   你怎麼花了那麼長時間啊？[MSC,trad.]
   你怎么花了那么长时间啊？[MSC,simp.]

   Nǐzěnme huā le nàme cháng shíjiān a?[Pinyin]

   Why did it take you so long?

3. inwhat way; what

   我是怎麼跟你說的？[MSC,trad.]
   我是怎么跟你说的？[MSC,simp.]

   Wǒ shìzěnme gēn nǐ shuō de?[Pinyin]

   What did I tell you?

   閉嘴，我怎麼說你就怎麼辦！[MSC,trad.]
   闭嘴，我怎么说你就怎么办！[MSC,simp.]

   Bìzuǐ, wǒzěnme shuō nǐ jiùzěnme bàn![Pinyin]

   Shut up and dowhat I say!

4. used to indicate a degree, usually of inadequacy or inferiority

   我的女兒現在三歲，還都不怎麼會寫字。[MSC,trad.]
   我的女儿现在三岁，还都不怎么会写字。[MSC,simp.]

   Wǒ de nǚ'ér xiànzài sān suì, hái dōu bùzěnme huì xiězì.[Pinyin]

   My daughter is just three years old and cannot write anythingvery well.

   我很喜歡唱歌，但是我還不怎麼會唱。[MSC,trad.]
   我很喜欢唱歌，但是我还不怎么会唱。[MSC,simp.]

   Wǒ hěn xǐhuān chànggē, dànshì wǒ hái bùzěnme huì chàng.[Pinyin]

   I love singing, but I'm notvery good at it.

   我現在還不怎麼會打網球，但是在老師的教導下，一定能提高我的水平！[MSC,trad.]
   我现在还不怎么会打网球，但是在老师的教导下，一定能提高我的水平！[MSC,simp.]

   Wǒ xiànzài hái bùzěnme huì dǎ wǎngqiú, dànshì zài lǎoshī de jiàodǎo xià, yīdìng néng tígāo wǒ de shuǐpíng![Pinyin]

   I'm notthat great at tennis now, but I will definitely improve under my teacher's guidance!

怎麼(chiefly Mandarin)

1. todo orbecomeinwhatway

   你怎麼了？／你怎么了？  ― Nǐzěnme le?  ―  (“In what way did yougo?”) What happened to you?

   我怎麼你了？／我怎么你了？  ― Wǒzěnme nǐ le?  ―  (“What in a specific way did Ido to you?”) What did I do to you?

• (how; why):怎生 (zěnshēng)(obsolete)

• 怎樣／怎样 (zěnyàng, “in what way”)
• 什麼／什么 (shénme, “what”)
• 誰／谁 (shéi, “who”)
• 什麼時候／什么时候 (shénme shíhou, “when”)
• 哪裡／哪里 (nǎlǐ, “where”)
• 哪兒／哪儿 (nǎr, “where”)

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