Asking How Something Is with “Zenmeyang”

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

You might be familiar with the word 怎么 (zěnme), which means “how.” But by adding 样 (yàng) to it and making it 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng), you can ask how something is or what it’s like. This simple structure is essential for building conversation skills and is widely used in everyday conversations.

Basic Usage

Structure: To ask how something is, simply use the structure: SubjectSubjectSubject + 怎么样?

Examples:

1. 你 最近 怎么样？
   
   Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
   
   How have you been recently?
2. 北京 冬天 怎么样？
   
   Běijīng dōngtiān zěnmeyàng?
   
   How is Beijing in the winter?
3. 今天 天气 怎么样？ J
   
   īntiān tiānqì zěnmeyàng?
   
   How is the weather today?

Asking Opinions

Structure: To ask for opinions, use the structure: 你觉得 + Topic + 怎么样?你 觉得 + Topic + 怎么样?你觉得 + Topic + 怎么样?

Examples:

1. 你 觉得 上海 怎么样？
   
   Nǐ juéde Shànghǎi zěnmeyàng?
   
   What do you think of Shanghai?
2. 你 觉得 我 怎么样？
   
   Nǐ juéde wǒ zěnmeyàng?
   
   What do you think of me?
3. 你 觉得 中文 怎么样？难学 吗？
   
   Nǐ juéde Zhōngwén zěnmeyàng? Nánxué ma?
   
   What do you think of Chinese? Is it difficult to learn?

Exception: There’s no particular exception to this pattern. Just remember to use the structure correctly to ask about someone’s opinion or the quality of something.

Asking how something is with “zenmeyang” is a fundamental skill in Mandarin Chinese, allowing you to engage in various conversations and gather opinions about different topics.

For more insights into Mandarin Chinese grammar and conversation, stay tuned to our blog!