Usage note
这个词用来表示在遇到问题时，不知道如何解决的情况。
zhè gè cí yòng lái bǎo shì dài yǒu wèn tí shí ，bù zhī dào rúhé jué jué.
This word is used when facing a problem and not knowing how to solve it.
Context note
这个词常用于日常生活中的小问题，如找不到钥匙或不知道怎么完成作业。
zhè gè cí cháng yòng zài rì kāi shēn qíng zhōng de xiǎo wèn tí ，rú bù zhǎo dào qiā yào huò bù zhī dào zěn me wán chéng zuò yè .
This word is commonly used for small problems in daily life, such as not finding the keys or not knowing how to complete homework.
5 examples
找不到钥匙怎么办？
zhǎo bú dào yào shi zěn me bàn？
What do I do if I can't find the key?
作业太多了，怎么办？
zuò yè tài duō le， zěn me bàn？
There's too much homework, what to do?
忘记带伞了怎么办？
wàng jì dài sǎn le zěn me bàn？
What to do if I forgot my umbrella?
找不到妈妈怎么办？
zhǎo bú dào mā ma zěn me bàn？
What to do if I can't find Mom?
作业不会做怎么办？
zuò yè bú huì zuò zěn me bàn？
What to do if I don't know how to do the homework?
5 mini stories
小明找不到妈妈，怎么办？他想了很久，最后找到了妈妈。
xiǎo míng zhǎo bú dào mā ma， zěn me bàn？ tā xiǎng le hěn jiǔ， zuì hòu zhǎo dào le mā ma。
Xiaoming couldn't find his mom, what to do? He thought for a long time and finally found her.
小红作业太多了，怎么办？她决定先完成最重要的任务。
xiǎo hóng zuò yè tài duō le， zěn me bàn？ tā jué dìng xiān wán chéng zuì zhòng yào de rèn wu。
Xiaohong had too much homework, what to do? She decided to start with the most important task first.
小华找不到钥匙，怎么办？他检查了口袋和书包。
xiǎo huá zhǎo bú dào yào shi， zěn me bàn？ tā jiǎn chá le kǒu dài hé shū bāo。
Xiaohua couldn't find his key, what to do? He checked his pockets and backpack.
小丽忘记带伞了，怎么办？她决定等雨停再出门。
xiǎo lì wàng jì dài sǎn le， zěn me bàn？ tā jué dìng děng yǔ tíng zài chū mén。
Xiaoli forgot her umbrella, what to do? She decided to wait for the rain to stop before going out.
小刚作业不会做，怎么办？他向老师请教。
xiǎo gāng zuò yè bú huì zuò， zěn me bàn？ tā xiàng lǎo shī qǐng jiào。
Xiaogang didn't know how to do his homework, what to do? He asked his teacher for help.
Mini dialogue
找不到铅笔
A
我的铅笔不见了，怎么办？
Wǒ de qiānbǐ bú jiàn le, zěnme bàn?
My pencil is missing, what should I do?
B
别着急，咱们一起找找，看看怎么办。
Bié zhāojí, zánmen yìqǐ zhǎozhao, kànkan zěnme bàn.
Don't worry, let's look for it together and see what to do.
下雨没带伞
A
下雨了，我没带伞，怎么办？
Xià yǔ le, wǒ méi dài sǎn, zěnme bàn?
It's raining and I didn't bring an umbrella, what should I do?
B
没关系，我带了雨衣，咱们一起用，你说怎么办？
Méi guānxi, wǒ dài le yǔyī, zánmen yìqǐ yòng, nǐ shuō zěnme bàn?
It's okay, I brought a raincoat, we can share it. What do you think we should do?
Related words and contrasts
similar
怎么
zěnme
how; why
Used to ask 'how' or 'why', often in questions.
similar
如何
rúhé
how; in what way
A more formal way to say 'how'.