Difference between revisions of "Simple rhetorical questions"

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<div class="liju">
 
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<ul class="dialog">
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 看 到 我 的 手机 了 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn dào wǒ de shǒujī le ma? </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 看 到 我 的 手机 了 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn dào wǒ de shǒujī le ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you seen my cell phone?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不 是</em> 在 桌子 上 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> zài zhuōzi shàng ma? </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> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> zài zhuōzi shàng ma? </span><span class="trans">Isn't that it on the table?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 什么 时候 开会?<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen shénme shíhou kāi huì?</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">Wǒmen shénme shíhou kāi huì?</span><span class="trans">When are we having the meeting?</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不 是</em> 已经 告诉 你 了 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> yǐjīng gàosu nǐ le ma?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不 是</em> 已经 告诉 你 了 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> yǐjīng gàosu nǐ le ma?</span><span class="trans">Haven't I told you that already?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天 放假 了,好 开心。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān fàngjià le, hǎo kāixīn. </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天 放假 了,好 开心。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān fàngjià le, hǎo kāixīn. </span><span class="trans">We go on vacation today. I'm so happy!</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不 是</em> 明天 放假 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> míngtiān fàngjià ma?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>不 是</em> 明天 放假 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin"><em>Bù shì</em> míngtiān fàngjià ma?</span><span class="trans">Doesn't vacation start tomorrow?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 他 又 感冒 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā yòu gǎnmào le. </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 他 又 感冒 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā yòu gǎnmào le. </span><span class="trans">He's caught another cold.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 每天 穿得 都 很少,<em>能</em> 不 感冒 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Tā měi tiān chuān de dōu hěn shǎo, <em>néng</em> bù gǎnmào ma? </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 每天 穿得 都 很少,<em>能</em> 不 感冒 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Tā měi tiān chuān de dōu hěn shǎo, <em>néng</em> bù gǎnmào ma? </span><span class="trans">He never dresses warmly. How could he not catch a cold?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天 我 可能 会 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒ kěnéng huì chídào. </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 今天 我 可能 会 迟到。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒ kěnéng huì chídào. </span><span class="trans">I might be late today.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>你 起得 这么 晚,<em>能</em> 不 迟到 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Nǐ qǐ de zhème wǎn, <em>néng</em> bù chídào ma? </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>你 起得 这么 晚,<em>能</em> 不 迟到 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Nǐ qǐ de zhème wǎn, <em>néng</em> bù chídào ma? </span><span class="trans">You got up so late, how could you not be late?</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">Wǒ diǎn le hěn duō cài, dōu shì nǐ ài chī de. </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 点 了 很多 菜,都是 你 爱 吃 的。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ diǎn le hěn duō cài, dōu shì nǐ ài chī de. </span><span class="trans">I ordered a bunch of food, all stuff that you like.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>晚上 吃 这么 多 菜,<em>能</em> 不 胖 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Wǎnshang chī zhème duō cài, <em>néng</em> bù pàng ma?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>晚上 吃 这么 多 菜,<em>能</em> 不 胖 吗?<em> </em><span class="pinyin">Wǎnshang chī zhème duō cài, <em>néng</em> bù pàng ma?</span><span class="trans">Eating so much food at night, how could I not gain weight?</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 他们 公司 感觉 很 厉害。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngsī gǎnjué hěn lìhai. </span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 他们 公司 很 厉害。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngsī hěn lìhai. </span><span class="trans">Their company is really impressive.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>但是 他们 公司 <em>怎么 会</em> 有 这么 笨 的 员工?<span class="pinyin">Dànshì tāmen gōngsī <em>zěnme huì</em> yǒu zhème bèn de yuángōng?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>但是 他们 公司 <em>怎么 会</em> 有 这么 笨 的 员工?<span class="pinyin">Dànshì tāmen gōngsī <em>zěnme huì</em> yǒu zhème bèn de yuángōng?</span><span class="trans">But then how can they have such a stupid employee?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 收到 了 你 的 短信。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shōudào le nǐ de duǎnxìn.</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 收到 了 你 的 邮件。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shōudào le nǐ de yóujiàn.</span><span class="trans">I received your text.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>那 你 <em>怎么 会</em> 没 来?<span class="pinyin">Nà nǐ <em>zěnme huì</em> méi lái?</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>那 你 <em>怎么 会</em> 不 知道 ?<span class="pinyin">Nà nǐ <em>zěnme huì</em> bù zhīdao?</span><span class="trans">Then how is it that you don't know?</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">Wǒ gǎnjué zuìjìn yǒu yīdiǎn pàng le.</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我 感觉 最近 有 一点 胖 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gǎnjué zuìjìn yǒu yīdiǎn pàng le.</span><span class="trans">I feel like I've gained some weight recently.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁 让 你</em> 吃 这么 多。<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi ràng nǐ</em> chī zhème duō. </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"><em>Shéi ràng nǐ</em> chī zhème duō. </span><span class="trans">Who made you eat so much?</span></li>
 
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我 找 不到 我 的 钥匙 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhǎo bùdào wǒ de yàoshi le.</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>我 找 不到 我 的 钥匙 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zhǎo bùdào wǒ de yàoshi le.</span><span class="trans">I can't find my key.</span></li>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁 让 你</em> 不 放 在 包 里。<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi ràng nǐ </em>bù fàng zài bāo lǐ.</span><span class="trans">?</span></li>
+
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span><em>谁 让 你</em> 不 放 在 包 里。<span class="pinyin"><em>Shéi ràng nǐ </em>bù fàng zài bāo lǐ.</span><span class="trans">What stopped you from putting it in your bag?</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
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Revision as of 09:50, 6 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?Nǐ kàn dào wǒ de shǒujī le ma? Have you seen my cell phone?
  • B:不 是 在 桌子 上 吗? Bù shì zài zhuōzi shàng ma? Isn't that it on the table?
  • A: 我们 什么 时候 开会?Wǒmen shénme shíhou kāi huì?When are we having the meeting?
  • B:不 是 已经 告诉 你 了 吗? Bù shì yǐjīng gàosu nǐ le ma?Haven't I told you that already?
  • A: 今天 放假 了,好 开心。Jīntiān fàngjià le, hǎo kāixīn. We go on vacation today. I'm so happy!
  • B:不 是 明天 放假 吗? Bù shì míngtiān fàngjià ma?Doesn't vacation start tomorrow?
  • A: 他 又 感冒 了。Tā yòu gǎnmào le. He's caught another cold.
  • B: 他 每天 穿得 都 很少, 不 感冒 吗? Tā měi tiān chuān de dōu hěn shǎo, néng bù gǎnmào ma? He never dresses warmly. How could he not catch a cold?
  • A: 今天 我 可能 会 迟到。Jīntiān wǒ kěnéng huì chídào. I might be late today.
  • B:你 起得 这么 晚, 不 迟到 吗? Nǐ qǐ de zhème wǎn, néng bù chídào ma? You got up so late, how could you not be late?
  • A: 我 点 了 很多 菜,都是 你 爱 吃 的。Wǒ diǎn le hěn duō cài, dōu shì nǐ ài chī de. I ordered a bunch of food, all stuff that you like.
  • B:晚上 吃 这么 多 菜, 不 胖 吗? Wǎnshang chī zhème duō cài, néng bù pàng ma?Eating so much food at night, how could I not gain weight?
  • A: 他们 公司 很 厉害。Tāmen gōngsī hěn lìhai. Their company is really impressive.
  • B:但是 他们 公司 怎么 会 有 这么 笨 的 员工?Dànshì tāmen gōngsī zěnme huì yǒu zhème bèn de yuángōng?But then how can they have such a stupid employee?
  • A: 我 收到 了 你 的 邮件。Wǒ shōudào le nǐ de yóujiàn.I received your text.
  • B:那 你 怎么 会 不 知道 ?Nà nǐ zěnme huì bù zhīdao?Then how is it that you don't know?
  • A:我 感觉 最近 有 一点 胖 了。Wǒ gǎnjué zuìjìn yǒu yīdiǎn pàng le.I feel like I've gained some weight recently.
  • B:谁 让 你 吃 这么 多。Shéi ràng nǐ chī zhème duō. Who made you eat so much?
  • A:我 找 不到 我 的 钥匙 了。Wǒ zhǎo bùdào wǒ de yàoshi le.I can't find my key.
  • B:谁 让 你 不 放 在 包 里。Shéi ràng nǐ bù fàng zài bāo lǐ.What stopped you from putting it in your bag?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites