Chinese question word - 为什么(wèishénme - Why)

HSK Grammar Points > 为什么

1. Why?
   【为什么？】【为什么...？】
   to ask "what reason" (used alone or in a phrase)
   • “Wǒ yào huíjiāle.”“Wèishénme?”
     “我要回家了。”“为什么？”
     "I'm going home." "Why?" 13484
     Wèishénme yào děng? Wǒmen zǒu ba.
     为什么要等？我们走吧。
     Why wait? Let's leave now. 13485
2. Why......?
   【Subject + 为什么 + Predicate？】
   to ask "what reason" in questions
   • Nǐ wèishénme zhème zuò?
     你为什么这么做？
     Why are you doing this? 1462
     Nǐ wèishénme yīzhí gēnzhe wǒ?
     你为什么一直跟着我？
     Why are you following me all the time? 10740
3. Why not? Why don't?
   【为什么 + 不】
   used to make a suggestion
   • Nǐ wèishénme bù shuōhuà?
     你为什么不说话？
     Why don't you speak? 5307
     Wèishénme bù bǎ nǐ de xiǎngfǎ xiě xiàlái?
     为什么不把你的想法写下来？
     Why not write down your thoughts? 10360
4. (As an Object of a Verb)
   【Subject + Verb + 为什么...】
   used as an object of a verb in a sentence
   • Tā jiěshìle wèishénme chídào.
     他解释了为什么迟到。
     He explained why he was late. 13489
     Wǒ bù míngbái wèishénme tā tǎoyàn wǒ.
     我不明白为什么他讨厌我。
     I don't understand why he hates me. 13490
5. Too many whys (as a Noun)
   【Adj. + 的 + 为什么】
   used as a noun
   • Zhège shìjiè shàng yǒu tàiduō de wèishénme!
     这个世界上有太多的为什么！
     There are too many whys in this world! 13496
6. For no particular reason
   【不为什么】
   for no (particular) reason
   • Bù wèishénme, wǒ zhǐshì bù tíng de wǎng qián pǎo.
     不为什么，我只是不停地往前跑。
     For no particular reason I just kept on going. 13493
7. Why on earth...
   【到底 + 为什么】【究竟 + 为什么】
   used when you are extremely surprised, confused, or angry about something
   • Nǐ dàodǐ wèishénme bù gēn wǒ shuō shíhuà?
     你到底为什么不跟我说实话？
     Why on earth didn't you tell me the truth? 13494
     Tā jiùjìng wèishénme zhème jǐnzhāng?
     他究竟为什么这么紧张？
     Why on earth was he so nervous? 13495