怎么了
zěnme le
The English phrase "wassup" can be translated into Chinese as 怎么了 (zěnme le).
怎么了 is an informal way to ask someone what is happening or what is wrong.
How do you pronounce it?
zěnme le
When do people say it?
When someone asks 怎么了 to inquire about what is wrong, a common response is 没事, which means "nothing", "it's nothing" or "I'm fine".
Did you know?
- In written digital communication, people may replace the characters of 怎么了 with the pinyin 'zml' to save time, similar to how 'wassup' is a shorthand for 'what is up'.
- In some contexts, 怎么了 can be used as a challenge, similar to saying 'What's your problem?' or 'What are you looking at?' if spoken with a sharp tone.
- The phrase is composed of two parts: 怎么 meaning 'how' and 了 which indicates a change of state, literally implying 'how has the situation changed'.
Examples in context
- 发生什么事了？你怎么了？fāshēng shénme shì le? nǐ zěnme le?What happened? What's up with you?
- 你看上去不太好，怎么了？nǐ kàn shàngqù bù tài hǎo, zěnme le?You don't look good, what's up?
Example conversation
A friend notices another friend looking upset in the office.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你看起来很不开心，怎么了？jùnjié, nǐ kàn qǐlái hěn bù kāixīn, zěnme le?Junjie, you look unhappy, what's up?
- 俊杰 Junjie我只是觉得有点累。wǒ zhǐshì juédé yǒudiǎn lèi.I'm just feeling a bit tired.
- 雨婷 Yuting是不是昨晚没睡好？shì bù shì zuó wǎn méi shuì hǎo?Did you not sleep well last night?
- 俊杰 Junjie对，我熬夜了。duì, wǒ áoyè le.Yes, I stayed up late.
