Difference between revisions of "Simple rhetorical questions"

(Created page with "{{Grammar Box}} ''Who'', ''what'', ''when'', ''where'', ''why'', and ''how'': these question words are all used when forming questions in Chinese. The important thing to rem...")
 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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''Who'', ''what'', ''when'', ''where'', ''why'', and ''how'': these question words are all used when forming questions in Chinese. The important thing to remember is that [[word order]] is the same in Chinese for questions and statements.
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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.
 
   
 
   
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== Overview ==
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== Structure ==
  
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=== Common Question Words List ===
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There are several very common types of rhetorical questions using basic words you already know:
  
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In English, question words are also known as ''wh-words'', as the majority of them begin with ''wh'':
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<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
  
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* 什么 <span class="pinyin">shénme</span><span class="trans">what</span>
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不是……吗？
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* 哪里 、 哪儿 <span class="pinyin">nǎlǐ, nǎr</span><span class="trans">where</span>
 
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* 哪个<span class="pinyin">nǎge</span><span class="trans">which</span>
 
−
* 谁 <span class="expl">In spoken Chinese, people normally say "shéi," not "shuí"</span><span class="pinyin">shéi</span><span class="trans">who</span>
 
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* 什么时候 <span class="pinyin">shénme shíhou</span><span class="trans">when</span>
 
−
* 为什么 <span class="pinyin">wèishénme</span><span class="trans">why</span>
 
−
* 怎么 <span class="pinyin">zěnme</span><span class="trans">how</span>
 
−
* 多少 <span class="pinyin">duōshao</span><span class="trans">how many / how much</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Rules ===
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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.
  
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In English, question words have to be placed at the beginning of the sentence. This involves changing the [[word order]] to allow this rearrangement. In Chinese, using question words is a lot simpler. You simply place a question word in the place of the thing you want to ask about. ''Nothing needs to be rearranged.''
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<div class="jiegou">
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So if the statement is
 
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<div class="liju">
 
  
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* 我 是 <em>小李</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì <em>Xiǎo Lǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">I am Xiao Li.</span>
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怎么会……？
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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the question form - "who are you?" - has the same word order:
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This second one has a tone of incredulity. The speaker clearly thinks this shouldn't have happened, or thought it couldn't have happened.
  
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<div class="liju">
+
<div class="jiegou">
  
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* 你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you? (you are who?)</span>
+
谁让你……？
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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This works for whatever it is you want to ask about. The question form has the same word order as the statement form.
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The third one is exclusively used by surly or annoyed people. It means "who told you to...?" or "who made you...?"
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== Expressing "What" with 什么 (shénme) ==
 
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=== Structure ===
 
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−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
 
 
−
Subj. + Verb + 什么 + (Noun) ?
 
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−
</div>
 
  
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=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他 开 <em>什么</em> 车？<span class="pinyin">Tā kāi <em>shénme</em> chē?</span><span class="trans"> What kind of car does he drive?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他 开 <em>什么</em> 车？<span class="pinyin">Tā kāi <em>shénme</em> chē?</span><span class="trans"> What kind of car does he drive?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 开 <em>宝马</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Tā kāi <em>Bǎomǎ</em>.</span><span class="trans">He drives a BMW.</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 开 <em>宝马</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Tā kāi <em>Bǎomǎ</em>.</span><span class="trans">He drives a BMW.</span></li>
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
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−
== Expressing "Where" with 哪里 (nǎlǐ) / 哪儿 (nǎr) ==
 
−
 
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The words 哪里 (nǎlǐ) and 哪儿 (nǎr) mean the same thing. The difference is simply regional preference: 哪里 (nǎlǐ) is preferred in the south (Shanghai, Taiwan), whereas 哪儿 (nǎr) is preferred in the north (Beijing, Xi'an).
 
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−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
 
−
Subj. + Verb + 哪里 / 哪儿 ?
 
−
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 在 <em>哪里</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em>nǎlǐ</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are you?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 在 <em>家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em>jiā</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm at home.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are you going now?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去 <em>洗手间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù <em>xǐshǒujiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to the bathroom.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 在 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where are we?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 在 <em>南京西路</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài <em>Nánjīng Xī Lù</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are at West Nanjing road.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 这 个 周末 你 想 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Zhège zhōumò nǐ xiǎng qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Where do you want to go this weekend?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 想 去 <em>公园</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiǎng qù <em>gōngyuán</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the park.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你好，你 要 去 <em>哪儿</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐhǎo, nǐ yào qù <em>nǎr</em>?</span><span class="trans">Hello, where do you want to go?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 去 <em>外滩</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào qù <em>Wàitān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want to go to the Bund.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
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−
== Expressing "Which" with 哪个 (nǎge) ==
 
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−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+ Noun) ?
 
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</div>
 
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−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 <em>哪个</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào <em>nǎge</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which one do you want?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 要 <em>这个</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em>zhège</em>.</span><span class="trans">I want this one.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 喜欢 <em>哪 个 菜</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan <em>nǎge cài</em>?</span><span class="trans">Which dish do you like?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 喜欢 <em>这 个 菜</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>zhège cài</em>.</span><span class="trans">I like this dish.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 <em>哪 个 饭店</em>？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǎge fàndiàn</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which restaurant are we going to? </span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 去 <em>你 妈妈 的 饭店</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù <em>nǐ māma de fàndiàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">We are going to your mom's restaurant.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 在 <em>哪 个 房间</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài <em>nǎge fángjiān</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which room are you in? </span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 在 <em>你 的 房间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài <em> nǐ de fángjiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm in your room.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 住 在 <em>哪 个 区</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù zài <em>nǎge qū</em>? </span><span class="trans">Which district do you live in? </span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 住 在 <em>静安 区</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhù zài <em> Jìng'ān Qū </em>.</span><span class="trans">I live in Jing'an District.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
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−
== Expressing "Who" with 谁 (shéi) ==
 
−
 
−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
Subj. + 是 + 谁 ?
 
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</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
谁 + Verb ?
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who are you?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 是 <em>他 女朋友</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì <em>tā nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm his girlfriend.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>她 是 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who is she?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>她 是 <em>我的老师</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>wǒ de lǎoshī</em>.</span><span class="trans">She‘s my teacher.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
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<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 不 喜欢 <em>谁</em>？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù xǐhuan  <em>shéi</em>?</span><span class="trans">Who do you not like?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 不 喜欢 <em>我 的 老板</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xǐhuan <em>wǒ de lǎobǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">I don't like my boss.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span><em>谁</em> 想 去？<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi</em> xiǎng qù?</span><span class="trans">Who wants to go? </span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>我</em> 想 去。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ</em> xiǎng qù.</span><span class="trans">I want to go.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span><em>谁</em> 想 喝 咖啡？<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi</em> xiǎng hē kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Who wants to drink coffee?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>我</em> 想 喝 咖啡。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ</em> xiǎng hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I want to drink coffee.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
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</div>
 
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−
== Expressing "When" with 什么时候 (shénme shíhou) ==
 
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−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
 
−
Subj. + 什么时候 + Predicate ?
 
−
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
Examples for asking and telling ''when'' (to keep things simple, we'll just include questions about the future; asking questions about the past can be slightly more complicated and may involve the [[Using the "shi... de" construction|"shi... de" construction]]).
 
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−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>什么时候</em> 来 ？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ shénme shíhou lái?</span><span class="trans">When are you coming?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>明天</em> 来。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ míngtiān lái.</span><span class="trans">I'm coming tomorrow.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>什么时候</em> 走？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen shénme shíhou zǒu?</span><span class="trans">When are you guys leaving?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>下 个 月</em> 走。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xià gè yuè  zǒu.</span><span class="trans">We're leaving next month.</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我们 <em>什么时候</em> 吃饭？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen shénme shíhou chīfàn?</span><span class="trans">When are we eating?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我们 <em>6 点</em> 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liù diǎn chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">We're eating at 6:00.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>爸爸 <em>什么时候</em> 回来？<span class="pinyin">Bàba shénme shíhou huílái?</span><span class="trans">When is dad coming back?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>爸爸 <em>周末</em> 回来。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zhōumò huílái.</span><span class="trans">Dad is coming back this weekend.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 的 飞机 <em>什么时候</em> 到 上海？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de fēijī shénme shíhou dào Shànghǎi?</span><span class="trans">When is your airplane arriving in Shanghai?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>晚上 八点</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǎnshang bā diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Eight o'clock this evening.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
== Expressing "Why" with 为什么 (wèishénme) ==
 
−
 
−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
 
−
Subj. + 为什么 + Predicate ?
 
−
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>为什么</em> 学 中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>wèishénme</em> xué Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">Why do you study Chinese?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 在 中国 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ zài Zhōngguó gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans"> Because I'm working in China.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他们 <em>为什么</em> 不 喝 咖啡？<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>wèishénme</em> bù hē kāfēi?</span><span class="trans">Why don't you drink coffee?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 咖啡 很 苦。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> kāfēi hěn kǔ.</span><span class="trans">Because coffee is bitter.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>他 <em>为什么</em> 不 来？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>wèishénme</em> bù lái?</span><span class="trans">Why isn't he coming?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 他 很 忙。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> tā hěn máng.</span><span class="trans">Because he is busy.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 早上 <em>为什么</em> 不 在？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zǎoshang <em>wèishénme</em> bù zài?</span><span class="trans">Why were you not here this morning? </span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 我 出去 见 朋友 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> wǒ chūqù jiàn péngyou le.</span><span class="trans">Because I went out to meet some friends.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>这些 外国人 <em>为什么</em> 不 喜欢 中国？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē wàiguó rén <em>wèishénme</em> bù xǐhuan Zhōngguó?</span><span class="trans">Why do these foreigners not like China? </span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>因为</em> 中国 人 太多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yīnwèi</em> Zhōngguó rén tài duō.</span><span class="trans">Because China has a lot of people.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
== Expressing "How" with 怎么 (zěnme) ==
 
−
 
−
=== Structure ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="jiegou">
 
−
 
−
Subj. + 怎么 + Verb (+ Obj.) ?
 
−
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
=== Examples ===
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 学习 中文？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén?</span><span class="trans">How do you study Chinese?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用  <span class="spaced">Grammar Wiki</span></em> 学习 中文 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng Grammar Wiki</em> xuéxí Zhōngwén.</span><span class="trans">I use the Grammar Wiki to study Chinese.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 上网？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> shàngwǎng?</span><span class="trans">How do you go online?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>用 手机</em> 上网。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yòng shǒujī</em> shàngwǎng.</span><span class="trans">I use my cell phone to go online.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em> 去 北京？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> qù Běijīng?</span><span class="trans">How do you go to Beijing? </span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>坐 火车</em> 去。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuò huǒchē</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">I take the train.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你们 <em>怎么</em> 回家 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>zěnme</em> huíjiā?</span><span class="trans">How are you guys going to get home?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>开车</em> 回家。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>kāichē</em> huíjiā.</span><span class="trans">I‘m driving home.</span></li>
 
−
</ul>
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
<ul class="dialog">
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 <em>怎么</em>  买 票 ？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ <em>zěnme</em> mǎi piào?</span><span class="trans"> How do you buy tickets?</span></li>
 
−
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 <em>上网</em> 买 票 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>shàngwǎng</em> mǎi piào.</span><span class="trans">I go online to buy tickets.</span></li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 378: Line 70:
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
−
*[[Word order]]
 
−
*[[Affirmative-negative questions]]
 
 
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
 
*[[Yes-no questions with "ma"]]
 +
*[[Rhetorical questions with "nandao"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
−
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|}}
+
===Books===
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|101}}
 +
 
 +
===Websites===
 +
*Wikipedia: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetorical_question Rhetorical question]
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
{{HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{HSK|HSK2}}
  
−
{{Basic Grammar|什么|B1|不 是…… 吗 ？|不 是…… 吗 ？怎么 会…… ？|grammar point|}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|吗|B1|不 是…… 吗 ？|不 是 说好 了 吗 ？怎么 会 这样 ？|grammar point|ASGD4EC8}}
 
{{Rel char|不是}}
 
{{Rel char|不是}}
−
{{Rel char|吗}}
+
{{Rel char|怎么}}
 +
{{Rel char|会}}
 
{{Rel char|谁}}
 
{{Rel char|谁}}
−
{{Rel char|怎么}}
 
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}     
 
{{Similar|Placement of question words}}     
 
{{Similar|Yes-no questions with "ma"}}
 
{{Similar|Yes-no questions with "ma"}}

Revision as of 07:33, 23 May 2019

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.

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.

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: 这 是 什么？Zhè shì shénme?What is this?
  • B:这 是 我 的 iPad。Zhè shì wǒ de iPad.This is my iPad.
  • A:你 喜欢 吃 什么 菜？ Nǐ xǐhuan chī shénme cài?What kind of food do you like?
  • B:我 喜欢 吃 中国 菜。 Wǒ xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài.I like Chinese food.
  • A:你 用 什么 手机？Nǐ yòng shénme shǒujī?What kind of cell phone do you use?
  • B:我 用 iPhone。Wǒ yòng iPhone.I use an iPhone.
  • A:你 在 看 什么 书？Nǐ zài kàn shénme shū?What kind of book are you reading?
  • B:我 在 看 小说。Wǒ zài kàn xiǎoshuō.I am reading a novel.
  • A:他 开 什么 车？Tā kāi shénme chē? What kind of car does he drive?
  • B:他 开 宝马。 Tā kāi Bǎomǎ.He drives a BMW.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites



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