怎么
zěnme
How? in what way?
怎么 (zěn mó) — no matter how hard one tries
怎么 (zěnme) + (Verb) + 都 (dōu) / 也 (yě) + Negative result
HSK 43.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what怎么Action都也Result
Rule structure
怎么 (zěnme) with 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) can mean “no matter how one tries, it still does not work.” A verb may precede 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) and recur in the result, as in 怎么写都写不好 (zěnme xiě dōu xiě bu hǎo). Negation depends on the whole construction: 写不好 (xiě bu hǎo) expresses inability to write well; it is not a present-versus-past distinction.
Rule structure
怎么 (zěnme) with 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) can mean “no matter how one tries, it still does not work.” A verb may precede 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) and recur in the result, as in 怎么写都写不好 (zěnme xiě dōu xiě bu hǎo). Negation depends on the whole construction: 写不好 (xiě bu hǎo) expresses inability to write well; it is not a present-versus-past distinction.
Examples
这个字我怎么写都写不好。
Zhège zì wǒ zěnme xiě dōu xiě bu hǎo.
No matter how I try, I just can't write this character well.
我怎么也睡不着。
Wǒ zěnme yě shuì bu zháo.
I just cannot fall asleep.
Examples
这个字我怎么写都写不好。
Zhège zì wǒ zěnme xiě dōu xiě bu hǎo.
No matter how I try, I just can't write this character well.
我怎么也睡不着。
Wǒ zěnme yě shuì bu zháo.
I just cannot fall asleep.
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “no matter how hard one tries” in Chinese with 怎么?
Use the structure: 怎么 (zěnme) + (Verb) + 都 (dōu) / 也 (yě) + Negative result. For example: 这个字我怎么写都写不好。 — “No matter how I try, I just can't write this character well”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
这个字我怎么写都写不好。 — “No matter how I try, I just can't write this character well”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Level 4.
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More HSK 3.0 Level 4 grammar rules
够 — “so… / really…” with 的
够 (gòu) + Adj. + 的 (de)
来得及 / 来不及 — having enough time
来得及 (láidejí) / 来不及 (láibují) + Verb
拿 — take as an example
拿 (ná) + Noun + 来说 (lái shuō), ...
是 — X is X, Y is Y
X + 是 (shì) + X，Y + 是 (shì) + Y
有什么 — no point in doing it
有什么 (yǒu shénme) + 好 (hǎo) + Verb + 的 (de) / 没什么 (méi shénme) + 好 (hǎo) + Verb + 的 (de)
还 — challenging a claim
还 (hái) + X + 呢 (ne)
你 — go ahead and do it: 你X你的吧
你 (nǐ) + Verb + 你的 (nǐ de) + 吧 (ba)
让/叫 — do as you are told
让 (ràng) / 叫 (jiào) + you + Verb + 你 (nǐ) + 就 (jiù) + Verb