Difference between revisions of "Simple rhetorical questions"

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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> ?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>怎么会</em>……?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>怎么会</em>……?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> ?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>怎么会</em>……?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> ?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁让你</em>……?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
 
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Revision as of 08:22, 3 June 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.

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:??
  • B:不是……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:不是……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:不是……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:……吗???
  • A:??
  • B:怎么会……???
  • A:??
  • B:怎么会……???
  • A:??
  • B:谁让你……???
  • A:??
  • B:谁让你……???

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites