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4 ways to use 怎么样 / zěnmeyàng怎么样 / zěnmeyàng is a versatile little phrase.

You’re probably familiar with 怎么 / zěnme (how? / how come?), but as soon as you add 样 / yàng the meanings multiply - and that can be confusing. For example, 怎么样 can be used to ask for an opinion, or in the negative form to state that something is not all that good.

This post includes 4 ways to use 怎么样 like a native Chinese speaker.

Firstly, let’s look at the character breakdown:

怎 / zěn / what? why? how?么 / me / interrogative particle样 / yàng / shape, form, pattern, mannerSo we can see this word relates to the “how” or “what” or “manner” of something. Granted that’s a bit abstract, so below are 4 ways to actually use it in a sentence:

1. How’s it going? A common way to make small talk, 怎么样 can be used as an informal way to ask:

怎么样？

Zěnmeyàng？

How’s it going?你最近怎么样？

Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng？

How have you been lately?最近生意怎么样？

Zuìjìn shēngyì zěnmeyàng?

How’s business lately?2. What do you think? How about it?When you want someone’s opinion, add 怎么样 at the end of a sentence:

你觉得她怎么样?

Nǐ juéde tā zěnmeyàng?

What do you think of her?他做得怎么样

Tā zuò de zěnmeyàng?

How did he do? / How well did he do?新开的餐厅你觉得怎么样?

Xīn kāi de cāntīng nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?

What did you think of the new restaurant?这个博客你觉得怎么样？

Zhè ge bókè nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?

What do you think of this blog?跟我一起去，怎么样？

Gēn wǒ yīqǐ qù, zěnmeyàng?

How about we go together?3. It’s not up to muchYou can add 不 (bù) to negate 怎么样 in order to state that something is “not up to much” or “not too good” (in this case, it’s not a question). For example:

这本小说不怎么样

Zhè běn xiǎoshuō bù zěnmeyàng.

This novel isn’t up to much.他画得也并不怎么样

Tā huà de yě bìng bù zěnmeyàng.

He’s really not much of a painter.4. Drop the 么 /meOn the Mainland, most people say 怎么样 but you’ll also hear 怎样, especially in Tawain. 怎样 can be used interchangeably with 怎么样.

We hope this clarifies the usages of 怎么样 and gives you the confidence to go use it for yourself. 怎么样 is quite colloquial - use it with friends and co-workers and in your daily life to ask opinions and make small talk!

Should you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or email info@speakupchinese.com. Our team of teachers in Beijing are happy to assist.

Post by Sarah Soulie

Twitter @suxiaoya