怎么 (zěnme) - How

In English, we often move "how" to the very front of the sentence. Chinese is much more logical and consistent. The word 怎么 usually sits right before the verb. It asks about the manner or method of an action. Think of it as a modifier for the verb. It is like saying, "In what way do you [verb]?" You don't need to change the word order much. Just drop 怎么 where the adverb would go. It feels like building a Lego set. One piece fits perfectly before the action. This makes your sentences predictable and easy to build. Even if you are nervous, the pattern stays the same.

1. 1Building a sentence with 怎么 is a three-step process.
2. 2Start with your Subject (the person doing the action).
3. 3Add the magic word 怎么 right after the subject.
4. 4Finish with the Verb and any remaining Object.
5. 5The basic formula looks like this: Subject + 怎么 + Verb + Object?
6. 6For example: 你 (Subject) + 怎么 (How) + 去 (Verb) + 学校 (Object)?
7. 7This translates to: "How do you go to school?"
8. 8If there is no specific subject, you can start with 怎么 directly.
9. 9For example: 怎么 + 走? (How to go/get there?)
10. 10It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means go straight to the verb.

Use 怎么 when you need a method or a process.

Scenario 1: Asking for directions. You are at the Bund in Shanghai. You want to find the subway. You ask, 地铁站怎么走? (How do I get to the subway station?).

Scenario 2: Ordering food. You see a giant spicy crab. You ask the waiter, 这个怎么吃? (How do I eat this?).

Scenario 3: Learning the language. You see a beautiful character. You ask your friend, 这个字怎么写? (How do you write this character?).

Scenario 4: Tech support. Your phone screen is frozen. You cry out, 怎么办? (What should I do? / How to handle this?).

Scenario 5: Expressing surprise. Sometimes 怎么 means "how come" or "why." If your friend arrives two hours late, you might say, 你怎么才来? (How come you only just arrived?). It adds a flavor of "I didn't expect this."

Do not use 怎么 to ask about the quality of something. If you want to ask "How is the food?" do not use 怎么. Use 怎么样 instead. 怎么 is for the "process," not the "result."

Also, do not use it to ask about a person's health. "How are you?" is 你好吗? or 你怎么样?.

Avoid using 怎么 with adjectives alone. You cannot say "How big?" using 怎么. For that, you use 多.

Think of 怎么 as a "Verb Only" club. If there is no action involved, 怎么 probably isn't invited to the party.

One big mistake is putting 怎么 at the end of the sentence. In English, we say "I don't know how." In Chinese, you must say "I don't know how [to do]."

✗ 我知道怎么。 (Wrong)

✓ 我知道怎么做。 (Correct)

Another mistake is confusing 怎么 with 为什么. While both can mean "why," 怎么 implies surprise or a change in expectation. 为什么 is for a logical reason.

If you ask 你为什么不吃肉?, you want to know if they are vegetarian.

If you ask 你怎么不吃肉?, you are surprised because they usually love steak.

Yes, even native speakers might use them interchangeably in casual talk. But for you, sticking to the "method" rule is the safest bet.

Let's look at 怎么 vs. 怎么样.

怎么 + Verb = Asking for the method.

Example: 怎么写? (How to write?)

Noun + 怎么样 = Asking for an opinion or status.

Example: 这个字怎么样? (How is this character? Is it pretty?)

Now, let's look at 怎么 vs. 多.

怎么 + Verb = Method.

多 + Adjective = Degree.

Example: 多大? (How big?)

Finally, 怎么 vs. 为什么.

为什么 = Seeking a cause.

怎么 = Seeking a method OR expressing shock at a situation.