Chinese word

不怎么

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù zěn me

Meaning

  • adverbnot very

Example

他不怎么喜欢运动。tā bù zěn me xǐ huān yùn dòng

He doesn't like exercise very much.

Illustration for 不怎么 (not very)

More examples

他在聚会时不怎么说话。tā zài jù huì shí bù zěn me shuō huà

He does not talk much at parties.

Core concept

A low point on a scale placed before an action or quality, showing that it reaches only a small degree.

Common phrases

  • 不怎么吃bù zěn me chī

    not eat much

  • 不怎么说话bù zěn me shuō huà

    not talk much

  • 不怎么用bù zěn me yòng

    not use much

Similar words

不太bú tài: Mildly marks an action or quality as not very strong.
不是很bú shì hěn: Mildly marks an action or quality as falling short of a full degree.
不大bú dà: Marks an action or quality as limited in degree or extent.

Definition in Chinese

表示程度不高，常放在动词或形容词前，作弱否定用，意同“不太/不是很”。例：他不怎么喜欢运动。biǎo shì chéng dù bù gāo cháng fàng zài dòng cí huò xíng róng cí qián zuò ruò fǒu dìng yòng yì tóng bú tài bú shì hěn lì tā bù zěn me xǐ huān yùn dòng

Word origin

不怎么 (bùzěnme, "not very") combines 不 (bù, "not") with 怎么 (zěnme, "how"), whose colloquial use in this pattern marks degree rather than a question.

Usage tips

  • The expression belongs to conversational speech and fits neutral reports about preferences, ability, or conditions, but it does not by itself mean that something is impossible or completely absent.

Other meanings

  • not muchadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word