The question word 怎么

In Chinese, 怎么 (zěnme) stands before a verb and asks in what way or by what means an action is carried out.

In English it is usually rendered as “how?”.

Basic structure

怎么 + verb？

Meaning: how …?

我(Wǒ)们(men)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)？

How shall we get there?

我们 + 怎么 + 去？ we + how + go?

我(wǒ)们(men)we

怎(zěn)么(me)how

去(qù)go

Here 怎么 asks about the way of getting there.

她(Tā)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)超(chāo)市(shì)？

How does she get to the supermarket?

她 + 怎么 + 去超市？ she + how + go to the supermarket?

她(tā)she

怎(zěn)么(me)how

去(qù)超(chāo)市(shì)go to the supermarket

Here 怎么 asks by what means she gets to the supermarket.

怎么 + verb？

Meaning: it asks in what way or by what means the action is done.

Examples:

我(Wǒ)们(men)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)？

How shall we get there?

她(Tā)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)超(chāo)市(shì)？

How does she get to the supermarket?