怎么样

• Pinyin: zěn me yàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 怎 = 乍 (suddenly) + 心 (heart); 么 = question particle; 样 = 木 (wood) + 羊 (sheep, phonetic)

Meaning

How is it?; What about?; How about? Used to ask about conditions, make suggestions, or inquire about opinions.

One of the most versatile question expressions in Chinese. Used for: (1) asking how something is — 最近怎么样？; (2) making suggestions — 我们去吃饭怎么样？; (3) asking for opinions — 你觉得怎么样？ Very natural and extremely common in spoken Chinese.

Examples

1. 你最近怎么样？ How have you been lately?
2. 我们明天去游泳怎么样？ How about we go swimming tomorrow?
3. 这家餐厅怎么样？好吃吗？ How is this restaurant? Is the food good?

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, greetings, suggestions

Tone: friendly

Do Say

• 周末去爬山怎么样？(How about going hiking this weekend?)
• 你觉得这个主意怎么样？(What do you think of this idea?)

Don't Say

• 怎么样你今天？(Don't front 怎么样 before the subject — say 你今天怎么样 with natural word order.)

Origin & History

Combination of 怎么 (how) and 样 (appearance/manner), literally 'in what manner' or 'of what kind.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal