Difference between revisions of "Simple rhetorical questions"

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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你看到我的手机了吗?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em> 在桌子上吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们什么时候开会?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em> 已经告诉你了吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天放假了,好开心。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不是</em>明天放假吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 他每天穿得都很少。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>能</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>能</em> 不感冒吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天我又迟到了。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>能</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>你起得这么晚,<em>能</em> 不迟到吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我点了很多菜,都是你爱吃的。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>能</em>……<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>这么多菜,<em>能</em> 吃得完吗?<em>吗?</em><span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 门关好了,但还是东西少了。<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">B:</span><em>怎么会</em> 发生这样的事情?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我已经说得很大声了。<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">B:</span>那我<em>怎么会</em>听不到?<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我感觉最近有一点胖了。<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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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁让你</em>吃这么多。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我找不到我的钥匙了。<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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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁让你</em>不放在包里。<span class="pinyin">?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
 
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Revision as of 09:00, 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: 你看到我的手机了吗???
  • B:不是 在桌子上吗?吗???
  • A: 我们什么时候开会???
  • B:不是 已经告诉你了吗?吗???
  • A: 今天放假了,好开心。??
  • B:不是明天放假吗?吗???
  • A: 他每天穿得都很少。??
  • B: 不感冒吗?吗???
  • A: 今天我又迟到了。??
  • B:你起得这么晚, 不迟到吗?吗???
  • A: 我点了很多菜,都是你爱吃的。??
  • B:这么多菜, 吃得完吗?吗???
  • A: 门关好了,但还是东西少了。??
  • B:怎么会 发生这样的事情???
  • A: 我已经说得很大声了。??
  • B:那我怎么会听不到???
  • A:我感觉最近有一点胖了。??
  • B:谁让你吃这么多。??
  • A:我找不到我的钥匙了。??
  • B:谁让你不放在包里。??

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites