HSK 2
疑问代词：多久、为什么、怎么样、怎样
yí wèn dài cí ： duō jiǔ 、 wèi shén me 、 zěn me yàng 、 zěn yàng
Question words: 多久、为什么、怎么样、怎样
Explanation
This is a group of interrogative pronouns (words used to ask questions: who, what, which, where...) in Chinese. '多久' (duō jiǔ) asks about a length of time, how long; '为什么' (wèishénme) asks for a reason, like 'why'; '怎么样' (zěnmeyàng) and '怎样' (zěnyàng) ask about a condition, manner, or opinion, like 'how / in what way'.
place the question word right in the exact position of the information you are asking about in the sentence (unlike Vietnamese, do NOT move the question word to the front). '多久' goes after the verb (你写了多久 nǐ xiě le duō jiǔ); '为什么' goes before the verb; '怎么样/怎样' usually goes at the end of the sentence to ask about a condition, or before the verb to ask how something is done.
when you want to ask about a duration (多久), a cause (为什么), someone's or something's opinion or condition (怎么样), or the way to do something (怎样/怎么样).
'怎么样' and '怎样' are almost identical and interchangeable; '怎样' is a bit more formal and literary, while '怎么样' is more common in spoken language.
Vietnamese learners often move the question word to the front out of Vietnamese habit (saying *为什么你...* and leaving the queried slot empty), but in Chinese the question word must sit right in the exact position of the part being asked about. Also, avoid confusing '多久' (asking about a length of time) with '几点' jǐ diǎn (asking what time it is).
Examples
Yesterday's homework, how long did it take you to write it?
Why don't you go to class?
How is your father's health?
How do you write this character?
Practice
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Learn “疑问代词：多久、为什么、怎么样、怎样” effectively
The grammar point “疑问代词：多久、为什么、怎么样、怎样” (Question words: 多久、为什么、怎么样、怎样) is one of the key structures at HSK 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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