怎么

zěn me

How to do something with "zenme"

怎么 before a verb asks how an action is done.

怎么 + Verb ?

How it works

怎么走? is "how do I get there?", 怎么说? is "how do you say it?". 怎么 goes directly in front of the verb.

As always with Chinese question words, the word order doesn't change — 怎么 simply occupies the adverb slot. There's no inversion the way English flips "do you".

怎么 in front of a whole clause can also mean "how come", a complaint rather than a genuine question. That's an HSK 2 point.

Examples

  • zěn me zǒu?

    怎么走?

    How do I get there?

  • zhè ge zì zěn me xiě?

    这个字怎么写?

    How do you write this character?

  • nǐ zěn me qù gōng sī?

    你怎么去公司?

    How do you get to the office?