怎么了？
zěnme le?
What's wrong · trad. 怎麼了？
怎么了？ (Zěnme le) is used to ask "What's wrong?" or "What happened?". Speakers use it when someone looks upset, confused, or when something unexpected has occurred, often to check on them.
What does 怎么了？ (zěnme le?) mean?
怎么了？ (zěnme le?) means “what's wrong” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “What happened?”
When to use it
Neutral and common. It's a direct way to ask about a problem or situation. If you want to ask "What's wrong with you?" more directly, you could say 你怎么了？ (nǐ zěnme le).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “DZUN-muh luh.” The first syllable has a rising tone, and the second two are light (neutral tones).
Other ways to say it
- 你没事吧？nǐ méishì ba?Are you okay?
- 发生什么事了？fāshēng shénme shì le?What happened?
- 有什么问题吗？yǒu shénme wèntí ma?Is there any problem?
Examples
你看起来不高兴，怎么了？
nǐ kànqǐlái bù gāoxìng, zěnme le?
You look unhappy, what's wrong?
他突然跑了出去，我不知道怎么了。
tā tūrán pǎo le chūqù, wǒ bù zhīdào zěnme le.
He suddenly ran out, I don't know what happened.
怎么了？需要我帮忙吗？
zěnme le? xūyào wǒ bāngmáng ma?
What's wrong? Do you need my help?
Pro tip: The particle 了 (le) here indicates a change of state or a new situation, making it suitable for asking about something that has just happened or changed.
Related phrases
在哪里？ · Where谁？ · Who怎么办？ · What should we do
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