Ch 31 · Lesson 8Mandarin · Chapter 31 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
Rhetorical questions
？ means you DO know. The point is the reverse of the words: … reminds, … challenges, and can sound like an accusation.
The short version
？Nándào zhè shì wǒ de cuò ma?
Why?Hide
(nándào) turns a question into a challenge, and the point is the reverse of the words: (nándào nǐ bù zhīdào ma) means 'surely you know!'. It is strong: aimed at a person, it can sound like an accusation.
？Wǒ búshì gàosu guo nǐ ma?
Why?Hide
(búshì) before the predicate and (ma) at the end remind the listener of something they know: (nǐ búshì shuō yào lái ma), you said you'd come, didn't you? It is the everyday rhetorical question, and gentler than (nándào).
The whole system on one screen
The colours stay the same all page long:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | What it means |
|---|---|---|
？ | Nǐ búshì shuō yào lái ma? | You said you'd come, didn't you? |
？ | Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào ma? | Surely you know! |
？ | Hébì zhème zháojí? | What's the rush? There's no need |
？ | Shéi zhīdào? | Who knows? Nobody does |
They range from a friendly nudge to a challenge:
- 不是…吗 búshì… ma
- 何必 hébì
- 难道…吗 nándào… ma
The point is the reverse of the words
A negative rhetorical question makes a positive point; a positive one makes a negative point:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | The point |
|---|---|---|
？ | Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào ma? | You do know |
？ | Zhè búshì nǐ de shū ma? | It is your book |
？ | Nándào zhè shì wǒ de cuò ma? | It is not my fault |
English does the same with "surely" and "isn't it". So when you meet one of these markers, read the opposite of the words.
Context still decides whether a question is rhetorical at all. ？(Zhè búshì nǐ de shū ma?) can be a genuine check that the book is yours.
不是 (búshì)…吗 (ma): you know this already
(búshì) before the predicate and (ma) at the end turn a statement into a reminder: "as we both know". This is the rhetorical question you will hear every day:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
？ | Nǐ búshì shuō yào lái ma? | Didn't you say you were coming? |
？ | Wǒ búshì gàosu guo nǐ ma? | Didn't I tell you? |
？ | Tā búshì zài shàngbān ma? | Isn't he at work? |
There is no noun for (shì) to link here: … wraps the whole predicate, so learn it as one frame. It reminds rather than accuses, which makes it the safe choice with almost anyone.
难道 (nándào)…吗 (ma): surely not
(nándào) says the speaker can hardly believe what follows. It goes before the subject or straight after it, and (ma) usually closes the question:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
？ | Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào ma? | Surely you know! |
？ | Nándào tā zhēnde bù lái le ma? | Don't tell me he's really not coming! |
？ | Tā nándào bù míngbai ma? | He understands, surely! |
In speech the (ma) often drops: ？ (Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào?) With it is never wrong, so produce it.
(nándào) can also introduce a real guess, with no point being made: ？ (Nándào tā bìng le?), could he be ill?
Going further: 何必 (hébì): why bother? and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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