Easily confusedHSK 3

什么样 vs 怎么样 (shénmeyàng vs zěnmeyàng): asking for description vs evaluation

什么样 (shénmeyàng) asks for a description or classification of a noun, equivalent to 'what kind of'. 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) asks for an evaluation, opinion, or the manner of an action, similar to 'how is it?' or 'how about?'. The key difference is that 什么样 targets the type or characteristics of a noun, while 怎么样 targets the quality or manner of a situation or action.

When asking about the nature or type of a noun, we use 什么样 (shénmeyàng) – it modifies nouns and means 'what kind of'. In contrast, 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) is used to ask for an opinion, a judgment, or the method of doing something – it functions like a predicate or complement. 什么样 always relates to a noun (either modifying it or standing alone as a predicate), while 怎么样 can stand alone to ask for evaluation or to make a suggestion. Note that 怎么样 can also be used as a polite suggestion equivalent to 'how about...?'.

각각 언제 쓰는지

什么样shén me yàng
what kind; what... like?

Use 什么样 to ask about the type, category, or description of a noun. It often precedes a noun (e.g., 什么样的人 'what kind of person') or can be used as a predicate (e.g., 你的房子什么样? 'What is your house like?'). The answer provides attributes or characteristics.

怎么样zěn me yàng
how; how about

Use 怎么样 to ask for an opinion, evaluation, or the manner of an action. It can be used as a predicate (e.g., 这电影怎么样? 'How is this movie?') or as a complement (e.g., 你觉得怎么样? 'What do you think?'). Also used to make suggestions: 我们去看电影怎么样? 'How about we go see a movie?'

한눈에 보기

什么样怎么样
Question typeAsking for description of a nounAsking for evaluation/opinion or manner
Position in sentenceBefore a noun (as modifier) or as predicate (with or without 的)As predicate or complement (often at end of clause)
Requires a following noun?Yes, when used as modifier; as predicate it implies the nounNo – can stand alone without a noun
Example answer typeDescriptive attributes (e.g., 高的、胖的 'tall, fat')Evaluative adjectives (e.g., 很好 'very good')
Can suggest a proposal?NoYes (e.g., 怎么样? 'How about?')

예문

  • 什么样
    你想要什么样的人?
    Nǐ xiǎng yào shén me yàng de rén?
    What kind of person do you want?
  • 怎么样
    这个工作怎么样
    Zhè ge gōng zuò zěn me yàng?
    How is this job? / What do you think of this job?
  • 什么样
    你喜欢什么样的音乐?
    Nǐ xǐ huan shén me yàng de yīn yuè?
    What kind of music do you like?
  • 怎么样
    我们一起去吃饭怎么样
    Wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī fàn zěn me yàng?
    How about we go eat together?
    Here 怎么样 suggests a proposal.
  • 什么样
    你的书是什么样的?
    Nǐ de shū shì shén me yàng de?
    What is your book like? (description of type)
    Predicate use of 什么样 with 的.
  • 怎么样
    你觉得这个主意怎么样
    Nǐ jué de zhè ge zhǔ yì zěn me yàng?
    What do you think of this idea?

흔한 실수

  • Using 怎么样 to ask for a description of a noun's type (e.g., '他是怎么样的人?' to mean 'what kind of person is he?') – use 什么样 instead.
  • Using 什么样 to make a suggestion (e.g., '我们去看电影什么样?') – use 怎么样 for suggestions.
  • Asking '你买了怎么样书?' to mean 'what kind of book did you buy?' – should be '你买了什么样的书?'.
  • Using 什么样 after a verb to ask for an opinion (e.g., '你觉得这个电影什么样?' to mean 'how do you like this movie?') – 怎么样 is correct for evaluation.

자주 묻는 질문

When do I use 什么样 vs 怎么样?
Use 什么样 when you want a description or classification of a noun (e.g., 'what kind of person?'). Use 怎么样 when you want an opinion, evaluation, or the manner of an action (e.g., 'how is it?', 'how about doing something?').
Can 什么样 be used without a following noun?
Yes, 什么样 can be used as a predicate, often with 的: 你的房子是什么样的?('What is your house like?'). It still asks for a description of the implied noun, not an evaluation.
Can 怎么样 be used to ask for description?
No, 怎么样 is for evaluation or opinion. For descriptions, use 什么样. However, 怎么样 can be used to ask about appearance in a judgmental sense (e.g., 她长得怎么样?'How does she look?' – evaluates appearance, not describes type).
How do I remember which to use?
Think of 什么样 as 'what kind of' – it always ties to a noun's attributes. 怎么样 is like 'how (is it)' – it asks for a judgment or manner. Also, 什么样 can never make a suggestion; only 怎么样 can be used for suggestions.