为什么 wèi shén me
“why?; for what reason?”
pronounHSK 3 · 2021 list level 2Traditional 為什麼
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
为什么 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 453: 为什么 wèishénme — Level 2; official annotation 2. PDF page 91
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 为什么
为什么 means "why" and asks for a reason. It usually appears before the verb phrase, often after the subject, as in 你为什么不去？ It already forms a question, so it does not need 吗.
例句Example sentences
- 你为什么不吃早饭？nǐ wèi shén me bù chī zǎo fàn?Why don't you eat breakfast?
- 我不知道他为什么走了。wǒ bù zhī dao tā wèi shén me zǒu le.I don't know why he left.
- 为什么天气这么冷？wèi shén me tiān qì zhè me lěng?Why is the weather so cold?
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗你为什么不去吗？
✓你为什么不去？
为什么 already makes the sentence a question, so 吗 is not used.