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怎么 (zěn me) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 1

怎么 (zěn me) is a Chinese word: how. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 怎么

代 dài pronoun

how

你怎么知道的？

nǐ zěn me zhī dào de

How did you know?

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Word breakdown

怎 zěn — how, what (interrogative root)

Words with this character (3)

么 me — particle (completes interrogative expression)

Words with this character (8)
Show more (+3)
  • 6 怎么办 zěn me bàn — what to do HSK 3
    • 怎 how, what (interrogative)
    • 么 particle combining with 怎 to form 'how'
    • 办 to do, to handle, to manage
    Example

    我的钱包丢了，怎么办？

    wǒ de qián bāo diū le zěn me bàn

    I lost my wallet, what should I do?

  • 7 多么 duō me — how HSK 4
    • 多 indicates degree or quantity
    • 么 creates exclamatory or interrogative tone
    Example

    这朵花多么美丽啊！

    zhè duǒ huā duō me měi lì a

    How beautiful this flower is!

  • 8 要么 yào me — either...or HSK 6
    • 要 forms the first part of the conjunction expressing alternatives
    • 么 completes the conjunction structure to present alternatives
    Example

    你要么留下，要么离开。

    nǐ yào me liú xia yào me lí kāi

    You either stay or leave.

Structure & writing
1 怎 zěn — (colloq.) interrogative pronoun: how, why, what (asking about nature, state, manner, or reason)

怎 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1.1 乍 zhà — adverb meaning suddenly, abruptly
乍 is a component in 6 characters
HSK 1
作 zuò to work; to make; to produce 怎 zěn (colloq.) interrogative pronoun: how, why, what (asking about nature, state, manner, or reason) 昨 zuó yesterday
HSK 5
炸 zhà to burst or explode with a loud sound 窄 zhǎi narrow; not wide (opposite of 宽)
HSK 7
诈 zhà to deceive; to swindle
1.2 心 xīn — heart (organ that pumps blood)
心 is a component in 51 characters
HSK 1
怎 zěn (colloq.) interrogative pronoun: how, why, what (asking about nature, state, manner, or reason) 息 xī breath; air inhaled and exhaled 您 nín respectful form of 'you' (你) 想 xiǎng to think; to ponder
HSK 2
忘 wàng to forget, fail to remember, omit 思 sī to think, consider, use one's mind 意 yì wish; intention
HSK 3
必 bì certainly; definitely 急 jí anxious; impatient 总 zǒng to gather together, to assemble 感 gǎn to move (emotionally); to touch 愿 yuàn to be willing; to agree gladly
HSK 4
志 zhì aspiration; determination to achieve something 忽 hū careless, inattentive 态 tài shape; state; appearance 恐 kǒng to fear; to dread 悉 xī complete, entire
Show more HSK 4 characters (+1)
虑 lǜ to think over; to ponder
HSK 5
忍 rěn to endure; to suppress one's feelings 念 niàn to miss; to think of constantly 怨 yuàn resentment; hatred 恋 liàn to be in love, to adore 悠 yōu long-lasting, distant, remote
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
慧 huì intelligent; wise 慰 wèi to comfort; to soothe someone's mind
HSK 6
德 dé morality; ethical standards and norms of conduct 怒 nù to be angry; to feel indignant 恶 è evil deeds; wicked conduct (opposite of '善') 患 huàn calamity; disaster 悲 bēi sad, sorrowful
Show more HSK 6 characters (+3)
惑 huò confused; uncertain about right and wrong 惩 chéng to punish; to discipline, warn 愁 chóu to worry; to feel anxious
HSK 7
忌 jì to envy; to resent 忠 zhōng loyal and devoted, wholehearted sincerity 怂 sǒng (lit.) frightened; alarmed 怠 dài lazy; slack 恕 shù to forgive, to pardon
Show more HSK 7 characters (+13)
恩 ēn kindness; deep benevolence 恳 kěn sincere, earnest 恿 yǒng to instigate or urge someone to do something (see 〖怂恿〗) 悬 xuán to hang up; to suspend in the air 惹 rě to attract, to provoke 愈 yù to recover from illness 愚 yú stupid; foolish 慈 cí kind, benevolent 憋 biē to suppress or hold back (from coming out) 憨 hān foolish; idiotic 芯 xīn peeled rush pith; the central part of a plant 葱 cōng scallion; green onion (a common vegetable or seasoning) 闷 mèn depressed; unhappy in mood

Stroke order

2 么 me — suffix

么 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

2.1 丿 piě — the leftward-falling diagonal stroke in Chinese characters
丿 is a component in 14 characters
HSK 1
么 me suffix 午 wǔ the seventh of the twelve Earthly Branches 少 shǎo few; little (opposite of 多) 系 xì system; interconnected series
HSK 3
必 bì certainly; definitely
HSK 4
乒 pīng onomatopoeia for a gunshot or the sound of objects colliding 失 shī to lose; to be deprived of (opposite of 得) 血 xuè blood (the red fluid circulating in the body, composed of plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets)
HSK 5
乏 fá lacking; without 币 bì currency; money used as a medium of exchange 延 yán to stretch and lengthen; to extend 追 zhuī to chase; to catch up with
HSK 7
勿 wù do not; must not (prohibition or dissuasion) 囱 cōng chimney; flue for stove or boiler
2.2 厶 sī — private, personal, selfish
厶 is a component in 17 characters
HSK 1
么 me suffix 公 gōng public; belonging to the state or collective (opposite of '私') 去 qù to go (away from the speaker, opposite of 来) 能 néng ability; talent; skill
HSK 3
丢 diū to lose; to misplace 参 cān to join; to participate (in an activity) 育 yù to give birth to
HSK 4
云 yún (lit.) to say 允 yǔn to agree, to approve 台 tái a raised flat platform for observation 弃 qì to abandon, to discard
HSK 5
县 xiàn county (administrative unit under a province, autonomous region, municipality, or prefecture) 私 sī private; personal (opposite of 公)
HSK 7
勾 gōu to mark with a check or hook (indicating deletion or selection) 垒 lěi defensive wall or fortification in ancient military camps 弘 hóng a surname 矣 yǐ classical sentence-final particle: ① indicating completion (equivalent to '了'), ② indicating exclamation, ③ indicating command

Stroke order