Fixed Phrase: 不怎么样
不怎么样
Use 不怎么样 as a standalone evaluation meaning "not so great / mediocre / nothing special"
不怎么样 functions as a complete predicate meaning "not so great" or "mediocre." Unlike 不怎么 (which requires an adjective/verb after it), 不怎么样 can stand alone as a full evaluation. It can also follow 得 as a complement: 她唱得不怎么样 (She doesn't sing very well). This is a mildly negative assessment — dismissive but not harsh.
不怎么样 is complete on its own — it does not need an additional adjective. It is commonly used in casual conversation to give lukewarm or negative evaluations. It can function as a predicate (这部电影不怎么样) or as a complement (做得不怎么样).
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Fixed Phrase: 不怎么样 (不怎么样)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 不怎么样 pattern
New here?
Understanding 不怎么样
While 不怎么 (GP-29) needs an adjective or verb to complete it, 不怎么样 is self-contained — it is a complete evaluation that means "not so great," "mediocre," or "nothing special." This makes it extremely convenient for everyday opinions. When someone asks 这件衣服怎么样？(How is this outfit?), you can simply respond 不怎么样 (Not so great) — no need to specify what exactly is wrong. The phrase carries a tone of mild dismissal: it is not as harsh as 很差 (very bad) or 难看 (ugly), but it clearly communicates that something does not meet expectations. It also works beautifully as a complement after 得: 她跳舞跳得不怎么样 (She doesn't dance very well). In this usage, it evaluates the quality of an action. The phrase is a staple of casual Chinese conversation — you will hear it constantly in discussions about food, movies, products, and people's abilities. It is the Chinese equivalent of a noncommittal shrug followed by "eh, nothing special."
Key Points
- 不怎么样 is a complete predicate: 这个不怎么样 = "This is not so great."
- It does not need an additional adjective — 样 completes the expression.
- Used as a standalone reply: A: 怎么样？B: 不怎么样。
- As a complement: Verb + 得 + 不怎么样 = "doesn't do (verb) very well."
- Milder than 很差 but clearly negative — "mediocre / nothing special."
- Extremely common in casual conversation for evaluations and opinions.
Chinese speakers often use 不怎么样 as a diplomatic way to express disappointment without being too direct. It is particularly common when evaluating shared experiences — after a meal, a movie, or a performance. The phrase allows the speaker to express honest dissatisfaction while maintaining social harmony, as it is mild enough not to cause offense if the listener has a different opinion.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
她跳舞跳得不怎么样。
She doesn't dance very well.
Complement after 得
甲：这件衣服怎么样？乙：不怎么样。
A: How is this outfit? B: Not so great.
Standalone reply
这家餐厅的菜不怎么样，下次别来了。
The food at this restaurant is not so great — let's not come again next time.
他的英语水平不怎么样，但是很努力在学。
His English level is not that great, but he is working hard to improve.
这部电影的评价不怎么样。
The reviews for this movie are not so great.
他做菜做得不怎么样，但我们还是吃得很开心。
His cooking is not that great, but we still enjoyed eating together.
说实话，他的表现不怎么样。
To be honest, his performance was not so great.
Common Mistakes
Do not add an adjective after 不怎么样 — it is already a complete evaluation. If you want to specify what is not great, use 不怎么 + adjective instead. The two phrases have different structures.
When used as a complement, 不怎么样 comes after 得, not before it. The structure is: Verb + 得 + 不怎么样.
非常 does not naturally modify 不怎么样. To intensify, use 很 or 真的 before the expression.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Remember the key difference: 不怎么 needs an adjective after it (不怎么好), but 不怎么样 is complete on its own (不怎么样).
Use 不怎么样 as a quick, casual evaluation. It is the go-to phrase for "meh" or "nothing special" in Chinese.
As a complement (V + 得 + 不怎么样), it politely says someone is not very skilled at something without being cruel.
Listen for 怎么样 as a question and practice responding with 不怎么样 — this Q&A pair appears constantly in daily Chinese.
Homework
Practice the 怎么样 / 不怎么样 exchange: Write five mini-dialogues where Person A asks about something (a movie, a restaurant, a product, weather, or someone's ability) and Person B responds with 不怎么样. Then rewrite Person B's responses using 不怎么 + specific adjective (e.g., 不怎么好看, 不怎么好吃) and compare the two versions.