About
The character '咋' is a phono-semantic compound consisting of the mouth radical (口) alongside the component '乍', which primarily serves a phonetic function within its construction. Etymologically, this character initially represented physical actions associated with the mouth, such as biting or gnawing, though these concrete meanings have long since fallen out of common use. Over time, its application shifted significantly toward the realm of verbal expression, evolving into an informal interrogative term that functions equivalently to 'how' or 'why' in modern colloquial speech, a semantic transition that naturally aligns with its pictorial element suggesting oral communication.
Example Sentences Hide
你咋还不来？
这事儿该咋办？
你昨天是咋回家的？
这菜的味道咋样？
你咋知道这件事的？
你咋就不明白我的意思呢？
事情弄成这样，你让我咋跟他们解释？
这么多工作，你一个人打算咋完成？