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咋

zǎ
HSK 6
#2,824 most
frequent character
(dialect) why, how, what
adverb
pronoun

Example Sentences

你咋不来呢?
nǐ zǎ bù lái ne ?
Why didn't you come?
这件事咋办?
zhè jiàn shì zǎ bàn ?
What should we do about this matter?
你这是咋回事?
nǐ zhè shì zǎ huí shì ?
What is going on with you?

Words with similar meanings

为什么wéishènmǒ
why
More formal than '咋', typically used in written Chinese.
如何rúhé
how
'如何' can express a similar meaning but is more formal and less colloquial.
什么shénme
what
'什么' is a direct term for 'what', often used in questions.

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Public Lists with 咋

Question Words
Who, what, where, when, why, how, which, and other interrogatives.
Regional Dialects & Expressions
Basic words or phrases from Cantonese, Shanghainese, other local dialects.
HSK 6
All words for the HSK 6 test

Same Characters, Different Readings

咋zé
(literary) to bite, to gnaw
咋zhā
used in 咋呼[zha1hu5], Taiwan pr. [ze2]