怎么样 (how about)

• Pinyin: zěnmeyàng
• Formation: (Subject +) 觉得 + Topic + 怎么样?
• Hanzi breakdown: 怎 = 乍 (suddenly) + 心 (heart); 样 = 木 (wood) + 羊 (sheep)

Meaning

The expression 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) is used to ask for someone's opinion or evaluation about something. It is placed at the end of the question, after the topic being asked about.

Unlike English where 'how' questions often start with 'how,' Chinese 怎么样 sits at the end of the sentence after the topic. It can be used in two main patterns: asking for opinions (你觉得...怎么样?) and making suggestions (我们...怎么样?). The expression is versatile and casual, suitable for everyday conversation. Note that 怎么样 asks for a general evaluation, while 怎么 alone asks about method or manner ('how to do something'). In informal speech, 怎样 can replace 怎么样 with the same meaning.

Examples

1. 你觉得这部电影怎么样？ What do you think of this movie?
2. 我们周末去爬山怎么样？ How about we go hiking this weekend?
3. 你觉得这件衣服怎么样？ What do you think of this piece of clothing?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: inquisitive

Do Say

• 你觉得新来的老师怎么样？
• 今天下午去游泳怎么样？
• 你觉得我做的菜怎么样？

Don't Say

• 怎么样你觉得这个工作？(怎么样 must come after the topic, not at the beginning of the sentence) → 你觉得这个工作怎么样？
• 你觉得怎么样这本书？(怎么样 should be placed at the very end, after the topic 这本书) → 你觉得这本书怎么样？

Origin & History

怎么样 evolved from classical Chinese interrogative patterns. 怎 is a contraction of 怎么 (how/what), and 样 means 'manner' or 'appearance.' Together they literally mean 'what manner' or 'how is the appearance of something.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal