(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

  • Nǐ zěn néng zhè yàng zuò?
    How can you do this?
  • Tā zěn zhī dào zhè jiàn shì?
    How does he know about this?
  • Nǐ zěn bù zǎo shuō?
    Why didn't you say so earlier?

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