In this part of the question-word series, we look at how to ask 為什麼为什么 wèishénme, how to answer with 因為因为 yīnwèi … 所以 suǒyǐ …, how to use 為什麼为什么 wèishénme + 不 bù as a friendly suggestion, and how it differs from 怎麼怎么 zěnme “how come”.
1Why — 為什麼为什么 wèishénme
為什麼为什么 wèishénme literally means 為为 wèi (for) + 什麼什么 shénme (what) — “for what?” It can sit right after the subject, or at the very beginning of the sentence. Putting it first adds a little more emphasis.
Subject + 為什麼为什么 wèishénme + Verb (+ Object)？
為什麼为什么 wèishénme + Subject + Verb (+ Object)？
Q你為什麼來台灣？你为什么来台湾？
Why did you come to Taiwan?
A我來台灣學中文。我来台湾学中文。
I came to Taiwan to learn Chinese.
Q她為什麼不愛我？她为什么不爱我？
Why doesn’t she love me?
A因為你不會中文。因为你不会中文。
Because you don’t speak Chinese.
Q為什麼你今天不高興？为什么你今天不高兴？
Why are you unhappy today?
A因為我的手機不見了。因为我的手机不见了。
Because my phone is missing.
Key Point
為什麼为什么 wèishénme is the one question word that breaks the “put it where the answer goes” rule. You can’t just swap it for a reason — the answer is usually a new sentence, often starting with 因為因为 yīnwèi (because).
2Answering with 因為因为 yīnwèi (… 所以 suǒyǐ …)
The most natural way to answer a 為什麼为什么 wèishénme question is with 因為因为 yīnwèi. You can give just the reason, or add 所以 suǒyǐ (so) to state the result as well.
因為因为 yīnwèi + Reason。
因為因为 yīnwèi + Reason，所以 suǒyǐ + Result。
Q你為什麼學中文？你为什么学中文？
Why are you learning Chinese?
A因為我的女朋友是台灣人。因为我的女朋友是台湾人。
Because my girlfriend is Taiwanese.
Q你為什麼跟Tiffany學中文？你为什么跟Tiffany学中文？
Why are you learning Chinese with Tiffany?
A因為她真的知道怎麼教中文。因为她真的知道怎么教中文。
Because she really knows how to teach Chinese.
Q他為什麼沒來上班？他为什么没来上班？
Why didn’t he come to work?
A因為他生病了，所以在家休息。因为他生病了，所以在家休息。
Because he’s sick, so he’s resting at home.
3Why Not…? — 為什麼为什么 wèishénme + 不 bù as a Suggestion
為什麼为什么 wèishénme + 不 bù + Verb can be a real question (“why don’t you…?”), but very often it’s a friendly suggestion — just like “why don’t you…?” in English.
Subject + 為什麼为什么 wèishénme + 不 bù + Verb？
你累了，為什麼不休息一下？你累了，为什么不休息一下？
You’re tired — why don’t you take a break?
你不懂，為什麼不問老師？你不懂，为什么不问老师？
You don’t understand — why don’t you ask the teacher?
Good to Know
休息 xiūxí休息 xiūxi is pronounced xiūxí in Taiwan and xiūxi (with a neutral tone) in Mainland China. Switch the text display to hear the difference in the pinyin.
4為什麼为什么 wèishénme vs 怎麼怎么 zěnme (How Come)
In HSK 1 you learned that 怎麼怎么 zěnme + negative means “how come”. Both words can ask about a reason, but they don’t feel the same.
| Word | Feeling | Example |
|---|
| 為什麼为什么 wèishénme | A neutral, direct question — you really want to know the reason. | 你為什麼沒來？你为什么没来？ Nǐ wèishénme méi lái? |
| 怎麼怎么 zěnme | Surprise or mild complaint — “how come?!” More casual; you may not expect a full answer. | 你怎麼沒來？你怎么没来？ Nǐ zěnme méi lái? |
5Common Mistakes
❌你來台灣為什麼？你来台湾为什么？
✅你為什麼來台灣？你为什么来台湾？
為什麼为什么 wèishénme goes before the verb (or at the very start), never at the end like English “why” sometimes does in speech.
❌你為什麼喜歡她嗎？你为什么喜欢她吗？
✅你為什麼喜歡她？你为什么喜欢她？
A sentence with 為什麼为什么 wèishénme is already a question, so don’t add 嗎吗 ma at the end.
6Practice
How would you say these in Chinese? Tap each card to check your answer.
01Why are you so tired?
你為什麼這麼累？你为什么这么累？
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02Why didn’t he come to class?
他為什麼沒來上課？他为什么没来上课？
👆 Tap to reveal
03Why do you like drinking coffee?
你為什麼喜歡喝咖啡？你为什么喜欢喝咖啡？
👆 Tap to reveal
04Why is this so expensive?
這個為什麼這麼貴？这个为什么这么贵？
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05Why is she crying?
她為什麼在哭？她为什么在哭？
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06Because it’s raining, I’m not going out.
因為下雨，所以我不出去。因为下雨，所以我不出去。
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07Why don’t you take a taxi?
你為什麼不坐計程車？你为什么不坐出租车？
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08Why don’t we go together?
我們為什麼不一起去？我们为什么不一块儿去？
👆 Tap to reveal
