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咋

zǎ
HSK 2.0 Level 6 Common

Select an entry

This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

咋
zǎ dialectal equivalent of 怎麼|怎么[zěn me]
咋
zé gnaw
咋
zhà loud noise; shout

Definitions

  1. 1. dialectal equivalent of 怎麼|怎么[zěn me]

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Character focus

Stroke order

8 strokes

Word relationships

Related words

1 item
为什么
wèi shén me

why?

when 咋 is used to ask 'why'

Synonyms

1 item
怎么
zěn me

how?

Northern dialects: general 'how' or 'why'

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Learners often use 咋 with 吗 (e.g., *咋吗?), but 吗 is redundant because 咋 itself marks the question.

Formality

咋 is colloquial and mainly used in northern Chinese dialects; avoid in formal writing or Standard Mandarin exams.

Example Sentences

2 shown
你 咋 没来呢？
Why didn't you come?
我們去市場 咋 樣？
Source: Tatoeba.org (ID 10530866)

Sentence data courtesy of Tatoeba.org. AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 咋

不咋地
bù zǎ de

(dialect) not that great

不咋的
bù zǎ de

(dialect) not that great

咋呼
zhā hu

bluster

咋舌
zhà shé

to be speechless

叽咋柳莺
jī zǎ liǔ yīng

(bird species of China) common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

东方叽咋柳莺
dōng fāng jī zǎ liǔ yīng

(bird species of China) mountain chiffchaff (Phylloscopus sindianus)

百不咋
bǎi bù za

of no consequence (idiom)