HSK 2
Correct
反问句
/ fǎnwèn jù /
Strokes
/fit-in/684x0/img/202005/反问句-Chinese-grammar-Cchatty-yyyy-1589851893.jpg)
Formula
1
不是……吗？
2
哪儿/哪里 + 能/会 + ……？
3
…… + 什么？
Definition
A rhetorical question (反问句), looks like a question but it does not require an answer. In fact, it expresses the opinion or emotion of the speaker.
The negative form of the rhetorical question is used to express affirmative meaning, while the affirmative form is used to express negative meaning.
Example
不是……吗？
不是……吗？ is often used for reminding or for expressing them speaker's confusion or dissatisfaction, etc.
1) The subject of a rhetorical question in the pattern 不是......吗? can be placed either before or after 不是.
2) 没 + verb...... 吗? can also be used as a pattern of the rhetorical question.
1) The subject of a rhetorical question in the pattern 不是......吗? can be placed either before or after 不是.
2) 没 + verb...... 吗? can also be used as a pattern of the rhetorical question.
不是……吗？
1
A
A
:
biè
别
shuì
睡
le
了
,
nǐ
你
jīntiān
今天
bú
不
shi
是
yǒu
有
kè
课
ma
吗
?
B
B
:
wǒ
我
mǎshàng
马上
qǐlai
起来
。
A: Get up, don't you have a lesson today ? B: I'll get up right now.
2
Zhēn
真
dǎoméi
倒霉
,
wǒ
我
méi
没
dài
带
sǎn
伞
,
tiānqì
天气
yùbào
预报
bú
不
shi
是
shuō
说
méiyǒu
没有
yǔ
雨
ma
吗
?
Oh, bad luck, I didn't take an umbrella. The weather forecast said no rain today, didn't they ?
3
Nǐ
你
méi
没
kànjiàn
看见
ma
吗
?
Yàoshi
钥匙
jiù
就
zài
在
zhuōzi
桌子
shàng
上
。
Don't you see? The key is on the desk.
Rhetorical questions containing interrogative pronouns
When an interrogative pronoun is used in a rhetorical question, the speaker usually expresses the confusion, dissatisfaction or disagreement.
1) The interrogative pronoun in a rhetorical question still keeps its original meaning.
2) 哪儿, 哪里 and 怎么 in a rhetorical question indicates negation rather than a place, manner or reason.
When 哪儿, 哪罜 or 怎么 appears in a rhetorical question, the common verb is often preceded by the optative verb, such as 能, 会, etc.
1) The interrogative pronoun in a rhetorical question still keeps its original meaning.
2) 哪儿, 哪里 and 怎么 in a rhetorical question indicates negation rather than a place, manner or reason.
When 哪儿, 哪罜 or 怎么 appears in a rhetorical question, the common verb is often preceded by the optative verb, such as 能, 会, etc.
哪儿/哪里 + 能/会 + ……？
4
Nǐmen
你们
gōngzī
工资
nàme
那么
dī
低
,
shuí
谁
yuànyì
愿意
qù
去
ā
啊
?
(
méiyǒu
没有
rén
人
yuànyì
愿意
qù
去
nàr
那儿
gōngzuò
工作
。
)
Your wages are so low, who would like to go ? (Nobody wants to go there to work. )
5
Wǒ
我
cáixué
才学
le
了
liǎng
两
gè
个
yuè
月
zhōngwén
中文
,
nǎr
哪儿
néng
能
zuò
做
fānyì
翻译
?
(
wǒ
我
bù
不
néng
能
zuō
作
fānyì
翻译
。
)
I just learned Chinese for two months, how can I be a translator? (I can't be a translator. )
什么 added immediately after an opinion of the other speaker indicates the speaker's disagreement or dissatisfaction.
…… + 什么？
6
Zhè
这
jiàn
件
yīfu
衣服
tài
太
nánkàn
难看
le
了
,
piàoliang
漂亮
shénme
什么
?
(
bù
不
piàoliang
漂亮
。
)
This clothes is terrible-looking, it's not beautiful.
7
Yéye
爷爷
:
wǒ
我
lǎo
老
le
了
。
Sūnnǚ
孙女
:
lǎo
老
shénme
什么
,
nín
您
niánqīng
年轻
zhāo
着
ne
呢
。
Grandpa: I'm old. Granddaughter: You're not old. You're still young.
Exercise
Complete the sentences with rhetorical questions:
1. A：今年暑假我还想去广州。 B：（ ）？ （不是……吗）
2. A：我下午去上班，这件事明天再说吧。 B：今天是星期天，（ ）？（不是……吗）
3. A：我们打算让他参加中文歌唱比赛。 B：他不会唱中文歌，（ ）？（怎么）
4. A：来中国以前，他没学过汉语。 B：（ ）？（谁说）
5. A：咱们别去香山了，我觉得太远了。 B：（ ）？（哪儿）
6. A：你怎么把那件事告诉他了。 B：我没告诉过他，（ ）？（什么时候）
7. A：我觉得这个电影非常好看。 B：（ ），我都快睡着了。（什么）