Chinese phrases
How to say how in Chinese
How in Chinese is 怎么 (zěn me) when you ask how to do something: 这个怎么用?, “how do you use this?” To ask what something is like, say 怎么样 (zěn me yàng).
怎么
how
Ways to say how
怎么
Everydayhow (to do)
Before a verb, to ask about the way: 这个怎么用?, “how do you use this?”
怎么样
Everydayhow is it?; what do you think?
To ask what something is like or how it went: 味道怎么样?, “how does it taste?”
怎么走
Everydayhow do I get there?
For directions. Put the place first: 去地铁站怎么走?
怎么说
Everydayhow do you say it?
To ask for a word: 这个用中文怎么说?
怎么办
Everydaywhat do I do?
When something goes wrong and you need a way out: 我手机丢了，怎么办?
多远
Everydayhow far?
多 before an adjective asks “how”: 多远, “how far,” 多久, “how long,” 多大, “how old.”
如何
Writtenhow (formal)
In titles, news and speeches: 如何学好中文, “how to learn Chinese well.” In conversation, use 怎么.
Common mistakes
Using 怎么样 to ask how to do something
怎么样 at the end of a question asks what something is like. To ask how to do something, put 怎么 before the verb: 这个怎么用?, not 这个怎么样用.
Reading 怎么 as “how” every time
怎么 can also mean “how come”: 你怎么没来?, “how come you didn’t come?” And 你怎么了? means “what’s wrong?”
Using 怎么 for “how tall” or “how far”
For size, distance, age and time, use 多 and the adjective: 你多高?, “how tall are you?”
Asking the way
请问，去地铁站怎么走？
Leon: Excuse me, how do I get to the metro station?
一直往前走，到路口往左拐。
Passer-by: Go straight ahead and turn left at the junction.
远吗？
Leon: Is it far?
不远，走路五分钟。
Passer-by: Not far, five minutes on foot.
好的，谢谢！
Leon: OK, thanks!
More Chinese phrases
- How are you你好吗 · nǐ hǎo ma
- How do you say this in Chinese这个用中文怎么说 · zhè gè yòng zhōng wén zěn me shuō
- How much is this这个多少钱 · zhè gè duō shao qián
- Where哪里 · nǎ li
- Why为什么 · wèi shén me
- What什么 · shén me
