A + 怎么 + B?
Reach for this when something doesn't match what you expected and you want to demand an explanation. 怎么 sits between the subject and the verb (or change-of-state) to mean 'how come?' or 'why on earth?' — not a neutral 'why,' but a surprised one. Use it when a price jumped, when a friend looks off, when the room is empty and shouldn't be. It's the everyday Chinese way to flag 'wait, something's wrong here.'
Structure
[SUBJECT] 怎么 [VERB/STATE]?
[SUBJECT] zěnme [VERB/STATE]?
How to Think About It
怎么 here is not asking for a method — it's the speaker's eyebrow going up. Where 为什么 asks a neutral 'why' for an explanation, 怎么 in this slot signals surprise FIRST and asks for explanation second. If you can replace your English sentence with 'How come...?' or 'What — ...?' it's 怎么; if it's a calm 'why,' use 为什么.
Examples
今天怎么是两块？
Jīntiān zěnme shì liǎng kuài?
How come it's two yuan today?
你怎么还没睡？
Nǐ zěnme hái méi shuì?
How come you're still not asleep?
门怎么开着？
Mén zěnme kāi zhe?
How come the door is open?
Common Mistake
Learners reach for 为什么 every time they want to ask 'why,' which sounds flat and clinical when they're actually surprised. Native speakers use 怎么 + verb for surprised questions and reserve 为什么 for genuine information-seeking.
今天为什么是两块？
今天怎么是两块？
Don't Confuse With
为什么 + Verb?
Neutral 'why' — asking for an explanation without emotion. Use 为什么 in classroom questions, surveys, and analytical writing; use 怎么 when you're surprised.
怎么 + Verb (how to)
Same word, different slot. When 怎么 is followed by a plain action verb (怎么去, 怎么写), it asks for method — 'how do I get there / write it.' The surprise reading only kicks in with state verbs or unexpected facts.
怎么了?
A standalone question — 'what's wrong?' Used when you notice something off about a person or thing. The A 怎么 B? pattern points at the specific weird detail; 怎么了 asks open-endedly.
Practice
你 ___ 来这么早？
Show answer
怎么
今天 ___ 这么冷？
Show answer
怎么
Put in order: [怎么 / 你 / 哭 / 了]
Show answer
你怎么哭了？
Translate to Chinese: 'How come he's not here?'
Show answer
他怎么不在？
Write a sentence using A 怎么 B? to react to a surprising change.
Show answer
Example answer: 苹果怎么这么贵了？ (How come apples are this expensive now?)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: