怎 (zěn) — why; how
Definition
怎 is a bound question-word adverb that almost never stands alone — it must combine with a following word (e.g. 怎么 'how', 怎样 'how', 怎么办 'what to do'). Negate with 怎么不 to mean 'why not'.
adverb
whyhow
Examples
- 怎？Nǐ zěn néng zhè yàng zuò?How can you do this?
- 怎？Tā zěn zhī dào zhè jiàn shì?How does he know about this?
- 怎？Nǐ zěn bù zǎo shuō?Why didn't you say so earlier?
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
怎 is made from 心 (heart) and 乍, which gives the sound zhà.
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