什么样 vs 怎么样 (shénmeyàng vs zěnmeyàng): asking for description vs evaluation
什么样 (shénmeyàng) asks for a description or classification of a noun, equivalent to 'what kind of'. 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) asks for an evaluation, opinion, or the manner of an action, similar to 'how is it?' or 'how about?'. The key difference is that 什么样 targets the type or characteristics of a noun, while 怎么样 targets the quality or manner of a situation or action.
When asking about the nature or type of a noun, we use 什么样 (shénmeyàng) – it modifies nouns and means 'what kind of'. In contrast, 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) is used to ask for an opinion, a judgment, or the method of doing something – it functions like a predicate or complement. 什么样 always relates to a noun (either modifying it or standing alone as a predicate), while 怎么样 can stand alone to ask for evaluation or to make a suggestion. Note that 怎么样 can also be used as a polite suggestion equivalent to 'how about...?'.
When to use each
Use 什么样 to ask about the type, category, or description of a noun. It often precedes a noun (e.g., 什么样的人 'what kind of person') or can be used as a predicate (e.g., 你的房子什么样？ 'What is your house like?'). The answer provides attributes or characteristics.
Use 怎么样 to ask for an opinion, evaluation, or the manner of an action. It can be used as a predicate (e.g., 这电影怎么样？ 'How is this movie?') or as a complement (e.g., 你觉得怎么样？ 'What do you think?'). Also used to make suggestions: 我们去看电影怎么样？ 'How about we go see a movie?'
At a glance
| 什么样 | 怎么样 | |
|---|---|---|
| Question type | Asking for description of a noun | Asking for evaluation/opinion or manner |
| Position in sentence | Before a noun (as modifier) or as predicate (with or without 的) | As predicate or complement (often at end of clause) |
| Requires a following noun? | Yes, when used as modifier; as predicate it implies the noun | No – can stand alone without a noun |
| Example answer type | Descriptive attributes (e.g., 高的、胖的 'tall, fat') | Evaluative adjectives (e.g., 很好 'very good') |
| Can suggest a proposal? | No | Yes (e.g., 怎么样？ 'How about?') |
Examples
- 什么样你想要什么样的人？Nǐ xiǎng yào shénmeyàng de rén?What kind of person do you want?
- 怎么样这个工作怎么样？Zhège gōngzuò zěnmeyàng?How is this job? / What do you think of this job?
- 什么样你喜欢什么样的音乐？Nǐ xǐhuān shénmeyàng de yīnyuè?What kind of music do you like?
- 怎么样我们一起去吃饭怎么样？Wǒmen yīqǐ qù chīfàn zěnmeyàng?How about we go eat together?Here 怎么样 suggests a proposal.
- 什么样你的书是什么样的？Nǐ de shū shì shénmeyàng de?What is your book like? (description of type)Predicate use of 什么样 with 的.
- 怎么样你觉得这个主意怎么样？Nǐ juéde zhège zhǔyi zěnmeyàng?What do you think of this idea?
Common mistakes
- Using 怎么样 to ask for a description of a noun's type (e.g., '他是怎么样的人？' to mean 'what kind of person is he?') – use 什么样 instead.
- Using 什么样 to make a suggestion (e.g., '我们去看电影什么样？') – use 怎么样 for suggestions.
- Asking '你买了怎么样书？' to mean 'what kind of book did you buy?' – should be '你买了什么样的书？'.
- Using 什么样 after a verb to ask for an opinion (e.g., '你觉得这个电影什么样？' to mean 'how do you like this movie?') – 怎么样 is correct for evaluation.
FAQ
- When do I use 什么样 vs 怎么样?
- Use 什么样 when you want a description or classification of a noun (e.g., 'what kind of person?'). Use 怎么样 when you want an opinion, evaluation, or the manner of an action (e.g., 'how is it?', 'how about doing something?').
- Can 什么样 be used without a following noun?
- Yes, 什么样 can be used as a predicate, often with 的: 你的房子是什么样的？('What is your house like?'). It still asks for a description of the implied noun, not an evaluation.
- Can 怎么样 be used to ask for description?
- No, 怎么样 is for evaluation or opinion. For descriptions, use 什么样. However, 怎么样 can be used to ask about appearance in a judgmental sense (e.g., 她长得怎么样？'How does she look?' – evaluates appearance, not describes type).
- How do I remember which to use?
- Think of 什么样 as 'what kind of' – it always ties to a noun's attributes. 怎么样 is like 'how (is it)' – it asks for a judgment or manner. Also, 什么样 can never make a suggestion; only 怎么样 can be used for suggestions.