怎样
zěnyàng · HSK 2
how?
怎 (how) + 样 (manner/way) = in what manner
怎 = how/why (心 heart + 乍 suddenly, a sudden thought of why). 样 = type/manner/appearance. Together: how-manner, i.e. in what way or how. Pair with 这样 (this way) and 那样 (that way).
样 — wood radical 木 + sheep 羊
样 is a phono-semantic compound. The wood radical 木 originally hinted at meaning (a wooden model or sample), while 羊 (sheep) supplies the sound. From 'wooden pattern/template' it broadened to mean 'shape, form, kind, manner'.