何
hé
How; what; why
何不 (hé bù) — why not
何尝 (hécháng) + (不 (bù) / 没有 (méiyǒu)) + Predicate; 何不 (hébù) / 何苦 (hékǔ) + Verb
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
Who / what何尝不没有Action
Who / what何不何苦Action
Rule structure
何尝 (hécháng) introduces a rhetorical question: 我何尝不想去 (Wǒ hécháng bù xiǎng qù), “Don’t I want to go?”, affirms that the speaker does. Negation changes the resulting meaning: 何尝不 (hé cháng bù) affirms, while 何尝 (hé cháng) without negation generally denies the proposition. 何不 (hébù) suggests an action, “why not…”, while 何苦 (hékǔ) questions the need to spend effort, “why go to all that trouble?”. These words are more literary than ordinary 为什么 (wèishénme).
Rule structure
何尝 (hécháng) introduces a rhetorical question: 我何尝不想去 (Wǒ hécháng bù xiǎng qù), “Don’t I want to go?”, affirms that the speaker does. Negation changes the resulting meaning: 何尝不 (hé cháng bù) affirms, while 何尝 (hé cháng) without negation generally denies the proposition. 何不 (hébù) suggests an action, “why not…”, while 何苦 (hékǔ) questions the need to spend effort, “why go to all that trouble?”. These words are more literary than ordinary 为什么 (wèishénme).
Examples
你何不试试？何苦这么累？
Nǐ hébú shìshi? Hékǔ zhème lèi?
Why not give it a try? Why bother tiring yourself out like this?
Examples
你何不试试？何苦这么累？
Nǐ hébú shìshi? Hékǔ zhème lèi?
Why not give it a try? Why bother tiring yourself out like this?
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Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “why not” in Chinese with 何不?
Use the structure: 何尝 (hécháng) + (不 (bù) / 没有 (méiyǒu)) + Predicate; 何不 (hébù) / 何苦 (hékǔ) + Verb. For example: 你何不试试？何苦这么累？ — “Why not give it a try? Why bother tiring yourself out like this?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
你何不试试？何苦这么累？ — “Why not give it a try? Why bother tiring yourself out like this?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
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More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
向来 — always previously
Subj. + 向来 (xiànglái) + Verb / Adj.
偏 — contrary to expectations
Subj. + 偏偏 (piānpiān) + Verb (undesirable coincidence)
无非 — nothing but
无非 (wúfēi) + Noun / Clause (dismissive)
何必 — why bother
何必 (hébì) + Verb Phrase (rhetorical, unnecessary)
按理 — logically speaking
按理 (ànlǐ) / 按说 (ànshuō) + Clause (conclusion that clashes with the fact)
不妨 vs 务必 — advice vs requirement
不妨 (bùfáng) + Verb Phrase (soft suggestion) / 务必 (wùbì) + Verb Phrase (insistent requirement)
照常 — as usual
Subj. + 照常 (zhàocháng) / 照例 (zhàolì) / 照样 (zhàoyàng) + Verb
碰巧 / 恰巧 — coincidence
Subj. + 碰巧 (pèngqiǎo) / 恰巧 (qiàqiǎo) + Verb Phrase