Core Usage Differences
怎么 : Mainly used to ask about "the way/method to do something" or "the reason for something", and can also express surprise or dissatisfaction.
Examples:
你怎么去学校?(Nǐ zěnme qù xuéxiào?) → How do you go to school? (asking about method)
他怎么哭了?(Tā zěnme kū le?) → Why is he crying? (asking about reason)
你怎么能这样!(Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng!) → How could you do this! (expressing dissatisfaction)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) : Mainly used to ask about "the state/quality of a person or thing", and can also be used to make proposals or seek opinions.
Examples:
这件衣服怎么样?(Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?) → How do you like this dress? / What do you think of this dress? (asking for evaluation)
身体怎么样了?(Shēntǐ zěnmeyàng le?) → How is your health? / How are you feeling? (asking about state)
我们明天去看电影,怎么样?(Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng, zěnmeyàng?) → How about we go to the movies tomorrow? (making a proposal)
Collocation and Contextual Differences
怎么 (zěnme) : Usually followed by verbs or adjectives; (cannot directly follow a noun.)
Correct usage:
怎么解决?(Zěnme jiějué?) → How to solve it? (followed by a verb)
怎么这么难?(Zěnme zhème nán?) → Why is it so difficult? (followed by an adjective)
Incorrect usage:
× 怎么这件衣服?(Zěnme zhè jiàn yīfu?) → Should be revised to: 这件衣服怎么样?(Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?) (How do you like this dress?)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) : Can be used independently, or followed by nouns/pronouns; (cannot directly follow a verb.)
Correct usage:
怎么样?(Zěnmeyàng?) → How is it? / What do you think? (used independently)
-这本书怎么样?(Zhè běn shū zěnmeyàng?) → What do you think of this book? (followed by a noun)
Incorrect usage:
× 怎么样做?(Zěnmeyàng zuò?) → Should be revised to: 怎么做?(Zěnme zuò?) (How to do it?)
(more)怎么 : Mainly used to ask about "the way/method to do something" or "the reason for something", and can also express surprise or dissatisfaction.
Examples:
你怎么去学校?(Nǐ zěnme qù xuéxiào?) → How do you go to school? (asking about method)
他怎么哭了?(Tā zěnme kū le?) → Why is he crying? (asking about reason)
你怎么能这样!(Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng!) → How could you do this! (expressing dissatisfaction)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) : Mainly used to ask about "the state/quality of a person or thing", and can also be used to make proposals or seek opinions.
Examples:
这件衣服怎么样?(Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?) → How do you like this dress? / What do you think of this dress? (asking for evaluation)
身体怎么样了?(Shēntǐ zěnmeyàng le?) → How is your health? / How are you feeling? (asking about state)
我们明天去看电影,怎么样?(Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng, zěnmeyàng?) → How about we go to the movies tomorrow? (making a proposal)
Collocation and Contextual Differences
怎么 (zěnme) : Usually followed by verbs or adjectives; (cannot directly follow a noun.)
Correct usage:
怎么解决?(Zěnme jiějué?) → How to solve it? (followed by a verb)
怎么这么难?(Zěnme zhème nán?) → Why is it so difficult? (followed by an adjective)
Incorrect usage:
× 怎么这件衣服?(Zěnme zhè jiàn yīfu?) → Should be revised to: 这件衣服怎么样?(Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnmeyàng?) (How do you like this dress?)
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) : Can be used independently, or followed by nouns/pronouns; (cannot directly follow a verb.)
Correct usage:
怎么样?(Zěnmeyàng?) → How is it? / What do you think? (used independently)
-这本书怎么样?(Zhè běn shū zěnmeyàng?) → What do you think of this book? (followed by a noun)
Incorrect usage:
× 怎么样做?(Zěnmeyàng zuò?) → Should be revised to: 怎么做?(Zěnme zuò?) (How to do it?)