怎么办

• Pinyin: zěn me bàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 怎 = 乍 (suddenly) + 心 (heart); 么 = question particle; 办 = 力 (strength) between two dots, suggesting effort and handling

Meaning

What should one do?; What to do? An expression used when facing a problem or difficult situation.

A very common spoken expression used when encountering a problem and not knowing how to handle it. Can be used as a question or embedded in a statement (不知道怎么办). Frequently used to express worry or helplessness.

Examples

1. 下雨了，没带伞，怎么办？ It's raining and I didn't bring an umbrella — what should I do?
2. 钱包丢了，我不知道怎么办。 I lost my wallet — I don't know what to do.
3. 考试没考好，怎么办呢？ I didn't do well on the exam — what should I do?

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, problem-solving

Tone: anxious

Do Say

• 手机没电了，怎么办？(My phone is out of battery — what should I do?)
• 你说怎么办就怎么办。(Whatever you say goes.)

Don't Say

• 怎么办这个问题？(Don't put an object after 怎么办 — say 这个问题怎么办 with the topic first.)

Origin & History

Combination of 怎么 (how/what) and 办 (to handle/to do), literally 'how to handle it.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal