HSK 2 Grammar 2.6.1 Asking "how come" with 怎么 - Chinese Grammar Course

Understanding the Difference Between "Why" and "How Come" in Chinese

Introduction to Grammar Point

• The lesson begins by comparing two English sentences: "Why are you learning Chinese?" and "How come you're learning Chinese?"

• The speaker explains that while both questions seek a reason, "how come" implies an expectation that the person would not be learning Chinese.

Asking Questions in Chinese

• To ask "Why are you learning Chinese?" in Mandarin, use: Ni Wei Shemai Xuèxi Han Yu.

• For "How come you're learning Chinese?", the phrase is: Ni zhěmǎ? Xuèxi Han Yu.

Understanding Stress in Questions

• The term zhěmǎ can mean both "how" and "how come," depending on stress; unstressed means “how come” while stressed indicates “how”.

• An example of stressing a word is elongating the first character, e.g., saying Han Yu longer emphasizes it.

Practical Examples of Usage

• Example for “how come it’s so hot today?” is expressed as: 今天怎么这么热?, with emphasis on how 怎么 is lightly pronounced.

• Another example includes asking why someone didn’t go out: 你们怎么都没去?

Advanced Usage of 怎么

• When asking about eating habits, one might say: 你怎么不吃了?, which translates to “How come you don’t eat anymore?”

• A personal anecdote illustrates using this structure when discussing feelings of unhappiness with family members.

Clarifying Confusion Between Questions

• If confused about when to use 怎么 for “how” or “how come,” remember that present tense actions can imply either based on stress.

• In negative sentences with 不, it only means “how come.” For instance, 怎么不学汉语? translates to “How come you’re not learning Chinese?”

Distinguishing Between Two Question Types

• The difference between asking how someone arrived (e.g., 你是怎么来的?) versus why they came (e.g., 你怎么来啦?) is crucial.