understanding zenmeban and zenmeyang

[doggylover14]

So I've been studying Chinese for a little over a year now. These two keep throwing me off. I mean I can look up the definitions and get them in theory, but I feel like they are often just tacked on to the end of sentences. Can someone just give me a couple simple and complicated examples so I can grasp what they exactly do.Thanks!

[ehophi]

Someone needs a translation corpus!

http://www.translateinto.com (Make sure that you submit with the mouse, not with the 'Enter' key.)
http://english.heyxu.com
http://www.chinese-course.com (search sentences)

[tommy525]

zenmeban = what to do?

zenmeyan = and so what? and your opinion ? , what do you want ? zenmeyan lah = whats happened?


"my bike got stolen zenmeban (what to do) ? "

" i did it zenmeyan (and so ? ) ? "

Guy comes into his room and sees his GF crying "zenmeyan la ? (whats happened? ) "

[Chris]

Zenmeban? 怎麼辦? "What to do?", with meanings including "What can be done?" "What do I (we, you) do now?" "How might one go about solving/dealing with this predicament?" It's a very useful phrase to elicit help from a recalcitrant, bureaucratic-minded person who would otherwise ignore your plight.

"Sorry, even though you booked a room at our hotel, we have no rooms available. (thinks: Now go away and stop bothering me.)"
"Zenmeban?"
"Well, let's see. We can put you in the Presidential Suite for now, at no extra charge, until another room becomes available."


Zenmeyang? 怎麼樣? "In what way?", with meanings including "What do you think?", "What do you say?", "How's it going?", and in some circumstances can even mean "What's your point?"