Scribd
Upload
134 views4 pages

Simple Rhetorical Questions - Chinese Grammar Wiki PDF

This document discusses the use of rhetorical questions in Chinese. It provides examples of common rhetorical question structures that use words like "bu shi", "keng bu", and "shei rang". The questions are used to make a point or express attitude without expecting an answer. Examples are given showing how each type of question is used in conversations. Rhetorical questions can be used to remind, point out unrealistic expectations, express incredulity, or question in an annoyed tone.

Uploaded by

MILKII Tube
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
134 views4 pages

Simple Rhetorical Questions - Chinese Grammar Wiki PDF

This document discusses the use of rhetorical questions in Chinese. It provides examples of common rhetorical question structures that use words like "bu shi", "keng bu", and "shei rang". The questions are used to make a point or express attitude without expecting an answer. Examples are given showing how each type of question is used in conversations. Rhetorical questions can be used to remind, point out unrealistic expectations, express incredulity, or question in an annoyed tone.

Uploaded by

MILKII Tube
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Simple rhetorical questions

Level
B1 / HSK2
Similar to
Advanced uses of "hai" (B2)

Used for
Asking questions, Expressing attitude, Asking rhetorical questions
Keywords
吗, 谁, 怎么, 会, 不是

Rhetorical questions are ones where the speaker doesn't really expect an answer. The answer
should be obvious, and the question is asked in order to make a point.

Contents
1 Structure
2 Examples
3 See also
4 Sources and further reading
4.1 Books
4.2 Websites

Structure
There are several very common types of rhetorical questions using basic words you already
know:

不是……吗？

This first one is the easiest and most common. It can be quite friendly, seemingly reminding the
other person of a fact they seem to have (conveniently?) forgotten.

能……吗？

This one is often quite sarcastic, pointing out someone else's unrealistic expectations. (The
obvious answer is "no" here.)

怎么会……？

This second one has a tone of incredulity. The speaker clearly thinks this shouldn't have
happened, or thought it couldn't have happened.

谁让你……？

The third one is exclusively used by surly or annoyed people. It means "who told you to...?" or
"who made you...?"

Examples
A: 你 看 到 我 的 手机 了 吗？Nǐ kàn dào wǒ de shǒujī le ma? Have you seen my cell
phone?
B:不 是 在 桌子 上 吗 ？Bù shì zài zhuōzi shàng ma? Isn't that it on the table?

A: 我们 什么 时候 开会？Wǒmen shénme shíhou kāi huì?When are we having the


meeting?
B:不 是 已经 告诉 你 了 吗 ？Bù shì yǐjīng gàosu nǐ le ma?Haven't I told you that
already?

A: 今天 放假 了，好 开心。Jīntiān fàngjià le, hǎo kāixīn. We go on vacation today. I'm


so happy!
B:不 是 明天 放假 吗 ？Bù shì míngtiān fàngjià ma?Doesn't vacation start tomorrow?

A: 他 又 感冒 了。Tā yòu gǎnmào le. He's caught another cold.


B: 他 每天 穿得 都 很少，能 不 感冒 吗 ？Tā měi tiān chuān de dōu hěn shǎo, néng bù
gǎnmào ma?He never dresses warmly. How could he not catch a cold?
A: 今天 我 可能 会 迟到。Jīntiān wǒ kěnéng huì chídào. I might be late today.
B:你 起得 这么 晚，能 不 迟到 吗 ？Nǐ qǐ de zhème wǎn, néng bù chídào ma?You got up
so late, how could you not be late?

A: 我 点 了 很多 菜，都是 你 爱 吃 的。Wǒ diǎn le hěn duō cài, dōu shì nǐ ài chī de. I
ordered a bunch of food, all stuff that you like.
B:晚上 吃 这么 多 菜，能 不 胖 吗 ？Wǎnshang chī zhème duō cài, néng bù pàng ma?
Eating so much food at night, how could I not gain weight?

A: 他们 公司 很 厉害。Tāmen gōngsī hěn lìhai. Their company is really impressive.


B:但是 他们 公司 怎么 会 有 这么 笨 的 员工？Dànshì tāmen gōngsī zěnme huì yǒu
zhème bèn de yuángōng?But then how can they have such a stupid employee?

A: 我 收到 了 你 的 邮件。Wǒ shōudào le nǐ de yóujiàn.I received your text.


B:那 你 怎么 会 不 知道 ？Nà nǐ zěnme huì bù zhīdào?Then how is it that you don't
know?

A:我 感觉 最近 有 一点 胖 了。Wǒ gǎnjué zuìjìn yǒu yīdiǎn pàng le.I feel like I've
gained some weight recently.
B:谁 让 你 吃 这么 多 ？Yes, this is totally mean in Chinese too, but people do say stuff
like this.Shéi ràng nǐ chī zhème duō?Who made you eat so much?

A:我 找 不到 我 的 钥匙 了。Wǒ zhǎo bùdào wǒ de yàoshi le.I can't find my key.


B:谁 让 你 不 放 在 包 里。Technically a question, but Chinese people often won't write
the question mark on a sentence like this.Shéi ràng nǐ bù fàng zài bāo lǐ.What
stopped you from putting it in your bag?

See also
Yes-no questions with "ma"
Rhetorical questions with "nandao"

Sources and further reading


Books

HSK Standard Course 2 (pp. 101) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy (http://www.amazon.cn/mn/d
etailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creati
ve=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)

Websites

Wikipedia: Rhetorical question (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_question)

Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?


title=Simple_rhetorical_questions&oldid=49022"

不允许任何以商业为目的或不注明归属 Chinese Grammar Wiki ©2011-2023 AllSet Learning 的内容引用。关于合法使用此


内容的更多信息，请参阅我们的知识共享权限条款（Creative Commons license）。

All content on the Chinese Grammar Wiki ©2011-2023 AllSet Learning, and may not be used for commercial
purposes or without attribution. For more information on how to legally use this content, please see our Creative
Commons license unless otherwise noted.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy