Using "nanguai" as a verb
难怪 (nánguài) when used as a verb can be translated as "hard to blame." This is usually directed at a person, and it is similar to how in English we may say "He's always sleepy, but you can't blame him because he works a night shift."
Contents
难怪 as a Verb
Structure
难怪 + [Specific Person / People]
When used as a verb it expresses that the speaker assigns no blame in the situation he is describing i.e. that someone is not to be blamed. Often a person is placed after it, as in the latter two examples below.
Examples
- A: 他 迟到 了 。
B: 这 也 难怪。 今天 地铁 坏 了 。A: He's late. B: Don't blame him, the subway broke down today. - 难怪 他,他 还 是 个 孩子 呢,什么 都 不 懂。Don't blame him, he's just a child. He doesn't know any better.
- 这 也 难怪你,第 一 次 到 这 个 地方 还 不 了解 这里 的 风俗。No one can blame you, the first time you came here, you didn't understand the customs.
- 这 也 难怪,他刚来嘛,算了算了。Don't blame him, he just got here, forget it.
- 这 也 难怪,他 已经 七十 岁 了,不适合 做 高 强度 的 运动。No wonder, he is already seventy years old and is not suitable for high intensity sports.
- 孩子 把 爸爸 最 喜欢的 花瓶 打 碎 了,也 难怪 爸爸 为什么 这么 生气 了。No wonder the child's father was so angry when the child smashed his favorite vase.
- 如果 你 一定 要 晚上 弹 钢琴,那 就 难怪 邻居 抱怨 你。If you insist on playing the piano at night, no wonder the neighbors complain about you.
- 你 也 太 不 爱 说话 了,难怪 你 老婆 说 和 你 说话 是 对牛弹琴。No wonder your wife says that talking to you is like talking to an ox.
- 本来 这 道 题 就 有 争议,也 难怪 学生 答 错 了。This question was already controversial, so it's no wonder the student got it wrong.
- 你 把 给 他的 礼物 给了 别人,也 难怪 他 不 高兴 了。 You gave him a gift to others, no wonder he was upset.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词(增订本) (pp. 239, 408) [ →buy]
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典(第5版) (pp. 499, 981) 卓越汉语-公司实战篇 →buy