adverb HSK 4
Traditional 不怎麼
not very · not particularly · not so much
Meaning
不怎么 is an adverbial phrase that negates degree or extent. It softens a negative statement to mean something is 'not very' or 'not particularly' rather than a complete negation. It's more moderate than using 不 alone, suggesting the quality exists but to a lesser degree.
Usage
Native speakers use 不怎么 before adjectives or verbs to politely or mildly express that something doesn't meet expectations. It's common in daily conversation to avoid sounding too blunt. For example, saying 不怎么好 (not very good) is gentler than saying 不好 (not good). Often used when giving opinions about food, experiences, or abilities.
Examples
- 01这家餐厅的菜不怎么好吃。.The food at this restaurant isn't very good.
- 02我不怎么会说法语。.I'm not very good at speaking French.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不怎么样not so great, mediocre
- 不怎么好not very good
- 不怎么会not very good at, not really know how to
- 不怎么喜欢don't particularly like
Antonyms
Origin
Literally combines 不 (not) with 怎么 (how/in what way), creating the meaning 'not in any particular way' or 'not to any significant degree.'