Negative Evaluation with 不怎么样 in Chinese
不怎么样
不怎么样 is a conventional negative evaluation meaning that something is not very good, impressive, or satisfactory. It can serve as a predicate, a short reply, or a complement after 得. Its force is often milder than a blunt 很差, but context and tone still determine how critical it sounds.
Published July 30, 2026
Reviewed July 30, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Topic + 不怎么样；Verb + 得 + 不怎么样
Read the structure
不怎么样 is a conventional negative evaluation meaning that something is not very good, impressive, or satisfactory. It can serve as a predicate, a short reply, or a complement after 得. Its force is often milder than a blunt 很差, but context and tone still determine how critical it sounds. Keep the model Topic + 不怎么样；Verb + 得 + 不怎么样 visible while you compare each sentence.
她跳舞跳得不怎么样。
She does not dance very well.
Choose the right context
Give a compact negative assessment. Answer 怎么样 with a restrained unfavorable judgment. Evaluate performance after a verb and 得.
这件衣服不怎么样。
This item of clothing is not very good.
Respect the boundary
Do not insert an object after the fixed predicate. Do not separate 不 from 怎么样. Do not treat the expression as a literal information question.
这件衣服不怎么样质量。
(This clothing is not very good quality.)
Repair the pattern
An object is attached after the complete evaluative predicate: 不怎么样 is already a complete predicate; 质量 must be the evaluated topic or subject before it. The fixed expression is broken apart: The conventional evaluation keeps 怎么样 in its fixed order after 不.
这件衣服质量不怎么样。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
她跳舞跳得不怎么样。
She does not dance very well.
她
Topic
This part occupies the Topic position in the model pattern.
跳舞
不怎么样；Verb
This part occupies the 不怎么样；Verb position in the model pattern.
跳得
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
不
不怎么样
This part occupies the 不怎么样 position in the model pattern.
怎么
Topic
This part occupies the Topic position in the model pattern.
样
不怎么样；Verb
This part occupies the 不怎么样；Verb position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
她跳舞跳得不怎么样。
She does not dance very well.
这件衣服不怎么样。
This item of clothing is not very good.
甲：这家店怎么样？乙：不怎么样。
A: How is this shop? B: Not very good.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Give a compact negative assessment.
- Answer 怎么样 with a restrained unfavorable judgment.
- Evaluate performance after a verb and 得.
Do not use it when
- Do not insert an object after the fixed predicate.
- Do not separate 不 from 怎么样.
- Do not treat the expression as a literal information question.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这件衣服不怎么样质量。
这件衣服质量不怎么样。
An object is attached after the complete evaluative predicate
不怎么样 is already a complete predicate; 质量 must be the evaluated topic or subject before it.
她跳舞跳得不样怎么。
她跳舞跳得不怎么样。
The fixed expression is broken apart
The conventional evaluation keeps 怎么样 in its fixed order after 不.
这件衣服不怎么样质量。
不怎么样 is already a complete predicate; 质量 must be the evaluated topic or subject before it.
她跳舞跳得不样怎么。
The conventional evaluation keeps 怎么样 in its fixed order after 不.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 不怎么样.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 不怎么样. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Negative Evaluation with 不怎么样 Questions
Is 不怎么样 always polite?
No. It is often less blunt than 很差, but tone and social context can still make it strongly critical.
How is it different from 不怎么好?
Both can lower an evaluation. 不怎么样 is a conventional whole evaluation, while 不怎么 usually lowers the degree of a following predicate such as 好.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六30】, PDF p. 237
Lists 不怎么样 at Level 6 as a predicate, short answer, and 得 complement.
Official source现代汉语构式数据库
北京大学中国语言学研究中心 · Peking University · 2021
Locator: Construction record 2224, 不+怎么样
Defines the fixed negative evaluation as 不太好 and documents predicate, reply, modifier, and 得-complement uses.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
不怎么不怎么 for a Low Degree or Low Frequency
Compare the fixed whole evaluation 不怎么样 with 不怎么 lowering a following predicate's degree.
Compare
有点儿/一点儿有点儿 vs 一点儿: A Little
有点儿 marks a small often undesirable degree, while 不怎么样 gives a general negative assessment.
Continue learning
很/太/非常/最Basic Degree Adverbs
Place the softened negative judgment beside positive high and neutral degree choices.
Continue learning
得The 得 (de) Complement
Use 得 before 不怎么样 when evaluating how an action is performed.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Compare the fixed whole evaluation 不怎么样 with 不怎么 lowering a following predicate's degree.