怎么: how it is done

怎么 before a verb asks how something is done: 这个字怎么读？, “how do you read this character?”. With 不 it expresses surprise: 他怎么不说话？, “why isn't he talking?”

Examples

• 这个字怎么读？ Zhège zì zěnme dú? How do you read this character?
• 你的名字怎么写？ Nǐ de míngzi zěnme xiě? How do you write your name?
• 他怎么不说话？ Tā zěnme bù shuōhuà? Why isn't he talking?

More in this chapter

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