Correct
怎么 vs 怎么样 vs 怎样
/ zěnme vs zěnmeyàng vs zěnyàng /
Strokes
Definition
怎么, 怎么样, and 怎样 are all Pronouns, which means “how; why”.
怎样 is more literary; 怎么 and 怎么样 are used both in literary and colloquial language.
Example
怎么, 怎么样, and 怎样 are interchangeable for inquiry about the ways.
1
Dào
到
wángfǔjǐng
王府井
,
wǒ
我
gāi
该
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
zǒu
走
ne
呢
?
How can I get to the Wangfujing Street?
2
Nǐ
你
zhīdào
知道
bōluó
菠萝
shì
是
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
zhòngzhí
种植
de
的
ma
吗
?
Do you know how the pineapple grows?
3
Qǐng
请
gàosù
告诉
wǒ
我
zhèzhǒng
这种
diànnǎo
电脑
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
yòng
用
。
How to operate the computer?
怎么 is used to ask for a reason.
4
Tā
他
zěnme
怎么
méi
没
lái
来
shàngkè
上课
?
Why did he not come to class?
5
Xiǎolǐ
小李
jīntiān
今天
zěnme
怎么
bù
不
gāoxìng
高兴
ne
呢
?
Why is Xiao Li unhappy today?
6
Tiān
天
zěnme
怎么
lǎo
老
bù
不
qíng
晴
ne
呢
?
Why is it always overcast?
怎么, 怎么样, and 怎样 are interchangeable to ask for the nature or state of something.
In the three examples, with the exception of example ⑦, which is a set phrase, the three words are interchangeable.
Sometimes 怎么样 and 怎样 can take 的; for example, example ⑧ can be said as 怎么样（怎样）的一本书. It is the same case with example ⑨.
Sometimes 怎么样 and 怎样 can take 的; for example, example ⑧ can be said as 怎么样（怎样）的一本书. It is the same case with example ⑨.
7
Zhè
这
shì
是
zěnme
怎么
huí
回
shì
事
?
What's wrong with it?
8
Nǐ
你
shuō
说
yī
一
shuō
说
,
nā
那
shì
是
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
yī
一
běn
本
shū
书
ne
呢
?
Please tell me what kind of book it is.
9
Nǐmen
你们
dōu
都
shuō
说
nàge
那个
xuésheng
学生
hěn
很
chūsè
出色
,
tā
她
dàodǐ
到底
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
chūsè
出色
ne
呢
?
You think the student is excellent.Tell me how she is.
怎么, 怎么样, and 怎样 are interchangeable when used to indicate nature, condition, or manner in general.
10
Wǒ
我
bù
不
juéde
觉得
zhège
这个
diànyǐng
电影
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
hǎo
好
。
I don't think the film is very good.
11
Kèrén
客人
yīdìng
一定
yào
要
zǒu
走
,
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
liú
留
yě
也
liúbùzhù
留不住
。
The guest was determined to go, so we could not keep him stay.
12
Tā
他
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
wèn
问
,
nǐ
你
jiù
就
zěnme
怎么
(
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
)
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
huídá
回答
。
You can answer him by his request.
怎么样 or 怎样 is used as predicate or complement, to ask about a situation.
13
Jīntiān
今天
tiānqì
天气
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
?
What's it like today? (predicate)
14
Tā
她
chàng
唱
de
得
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
?
How did you like her song? (complement)
15
Tā
他
de
的
bìng
病
zěnmeyàng
怎么样
(
zěnyàng
怎样
)
le
了
?
How is his illness?
16
Nǐ
你
zěnme
怎么
le
了
?
Shì
是
bù
不
shì
是
bù
不
shūfu
舒服
?
What's wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?
不怎么样 or 不怎样 can be used euphemistically to mean "not very good".
17
Wǒ
我
de
的
hànyǔ
汉语
bùzěnmeyàng
不怎么样
?
I cannot speak Chinese well.
18
Zhège
这个
rén
人
gōngzuò
工作
tàidù
态度
bùzěnmeyàng
不怎么样
。
The man's work is so-so.