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反问句 (Rhetorical question) is a question that expresses an affirmative or negative meaning in the interrogative form. It often indicates emphasis, surprise or reminding meaning.
Common patterns
Subject + 不是……吗？
This pattern is often used to remind someone of something or to show surprise, confusion, or dissatisfaction. The part in between can be noun phrase, verb phrase or adjective phrase.
e.g.
你不是说今天不迟到吗？怎么又晚了？(Nǐ búshì shuō jīntiān bù chídào ma? Zěnme yòu wǎnle?) Didn’t you say that you are not late today? Why is it late again?
>> Dissatisfaction
你不是学了三年汉语了吗？还听不懂我们说话？(Nǐ búshì xuéle sān nián hànyǔle ma? Hái tīng bù dǒng wǒmen shuōhuà?) Haven’t you studied Chinese for three years? Still can’t understand what we are saying?
>> Confusion or dissatisfaction
他不是你男朋友吗？为什么他和那个女孩子在一起？(Tā búshì nǐ nán péngyou ma? Wèishénme tā hé nàgè nǚ háizi zài yìqǐ?) Isn’t he your boyfriend? Why is he with that girl?
>> Confusion
能……吗？
This pattern is used in a rhetorical question in Chinese, with its positive form meaning the negative, and negative form meaning the positive. The tone is often very strong to draw others’ attention.
e.g.
你不做作业，也不复习，汉语能学好吗？(Nǐ bú zuò zuo yè, yě bú fùxí, hànyǔ néng xuéhǎo ma?) You don’t do homework or review. How is it possible that you learn Chinese well?
>> 不能学好
这一个星期我都睡得不好，能开心吗？(Zhè yígè xīngqī wǒ dōu shuì de bù hǎo, néng kāixīn ma?) I haven’t slept well this week. How is it possible to be happy?
>> 不能开心
你每天吃那么多，也不运动，能不胖吗？(Nǐ měitiān chī nàme duō, yě bú yùndòng, néng bú pàng ma?) How is it possible not to get fat if you eat so much every day and don’t exercise?
>> 会胖
他每天都练习写字，能写得不好吗？(Tā měitiān dōu liànxí xiězì, néng xiě dé bù hǎo ma?) He practices handwriting every day. How is it possible that he writes not well?
>> 会写得好
难道……(吗)?
This pattern is used to make the rhetorical tone stronger. “吗” can be omitted.
e.g.
今天不上班，你难道会不知道？(Jīntiān bú shàngbān, nǐ nándào huì bù zhīdào?) How is it possible that you don’t know not going to work today?
>> 你应该知道这件事
大家都很生气，他难道不明白为什么吗？(Dàjiā dōu hěn shēngqì, tā nándào bù míngbái wèishéme ma?) Everyone is very angry. Doesn’t he know why?
>> 他应该明白为什么大家都很生气
我给你发了三封邮件，难道你没看见？(Wǒ gěi nǐ fāle sān fēng yóujiàn, nándào nǐ méi kànjiàn?) I sent you three emails. Don’t you see it?
>> 你应该看见了我发的邮件
Note that the subject can be put before or after “难道” in this pattern.
Rhetorical Question with Interrogative Pronouns
The rhetorical question with interrogative pronouns is often used to emphasize the meaning and tone of the speaker.
e.g.
他这么有名，谁不认识他啊？(Tā zhème yǒumíng, shéi bú rènshi tā a?) He is so famous. Who doesn’t know him?
>> 谁都认识他。
她学习那么好，谁会不知道啊？(Tā xuéxí nàme hǎo, shéi huì bù zhīdào a?) She studies so well, who wouldn’t know?
>> 谁都知道。
e.g.
我怎么可能知道他在哪儿呢？(Wǒ zěnme kěnéng zhīdào tā zài nǎr ne?) How could I know where he is?
>> 我不知道他在哪儿。
声音那么大，你怎么会听不到呢？(Shēngyīn nàme dà, nǐ zěnme huì tīng búdào ne?) How can you not hear the sound so loud?
>> 你应该听得到。
e.g.
作业太多了，我哪儿有时间出去玩儿呀？(Zuòyè tài duōle, wǒ nǎr yǒu shíjiān chūqù wánr ya?) There is too much homework. How could I have time to go out and play?
>> 我没有时间出去玩儿
你想不想和他做朋友，我哪里能知道呢？(Nǐ xiǎng bùxiǎng hé tā zuò péngyǒu, wǒ nǎlǐ néng zhīdào ne?) How could I know if you want to be friends with him or not?
>> 我不知道
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