怎

zěn
乍 + 心

Definitions

zěn (adverb) how

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 心 represents the meaning and 乍 represents the sound.

Semantic: 心 Phonetic: 乍

About

怎 is a phono-semantic compound: the top component 乍 provides the pronunciation, while the bottom radical 心 (heart) indicates the meaning relates to mental states or feelings. Primarily functioning as an interrogative pronoun, it asks about the manner, nature, or reason of an action or situation, translating as "how", "what", or "why". Its core purpose remains consistently focused on inquiry.

Example Sentences Hide

你怎么知道？

Nǐ zěnme zhīdào?

How do you know?

这件事怎么办？

Zhè jiàn shì zěnmebàn?

How to handle this matter?

你怎样去学校？

Nǐ zěnyàng qù xuéxiào?

How do you go to school?

我不知怎么办。

Wǒ bù zhī zěnmebàn.

I don't know what to do.

他怎么还没来？

Tā zěnme hái méi lái?

Why hasn't he come yet?

你告诉我怎么做。

Nǐ gàosù wǒ zěnme zuò.

Tell me how to do it.

无论怎样，我都会帮你。

Wúlùn zěnyàng, wǒ dōu huì bāng nǐ.

No matter what, I will help you.

你怎么能这样说话？

Nǐ zěnme néng zhèyàng shuōhuà?

How can you talk like this?

Related Characters

Component: 乍

作 炸 昨 窄 诈 咋 乍 蚱 酢 祚 柞 笮 胙 舴

Component: 心

心 想 意 总 感 必 思 息 念 态 志 愿 急 您

Example Words

怎么 怎样 怎么样 怎奈 怎生 怎能 怎么了 怎么回事 怎么着 怎么办