难道
nándào
Could it be that, really
How to ask rhetorical questions with 难道 (nándào)
难道 (nándào)⋯⋯？
难道 (nán dào) — rhetorical question “don’t you…”
HSK 4Adverbs
难道 (nándào)⋯⋯？
HSK 4Adverbs难道 (nán dào) — rhetorical question “don’t you…”
Rule structure
难道 (nándào) introduces a rhetorical question and shows that the speaker is not simply asking for information, but expressing surprise, doubt, or an expectation of an obvious answer.
Rule structure
难道 (nándào) introduces a rhetorical question and shows that the speaker is not simply asking for information, but expressing surprise, doubt, or an expectation of an obvious answer.
Examples
难道你不知道这件事吗？
Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì ma?
Don’t you know about this?
难道他没来吗？
Nándào tā méi lái ma?
Could it be that he didn't come?
Examples
难道你不知道这件事吗？
Nándào nǐ bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì ma?
Don’t you know about this?
难道他没来吗？
Nándào tā méi lái ma?
Could it be that he didn't come?
Practice
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Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “rhetorical question ‘don’t you…’” in Chinese with 难道?
Use the structure: 难道 (nándào)⋯⋯？. For example: 难道你不知道这件事吗？ — “Don’t you know about this?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
难道你不知道这件事吗？ — “Don’t you know about this?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.
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More HSK 4 grammar rules
原来 — it turns out, originally
Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate
千万 — don't, whatever you do
千万 (qiānwàn) + (别 (bié) / 不 (bù)) + Verb
正好 — just in time, coincidence
Subj. + 正好 (zhènghǎo) + Verb / Adj.
不得不 — have to, forced to
Subj. + 不得不 (bùdébù) + Verb Phrase
也 都 — also all
Subj. + 也 (yě) + 都 (dōu) + Verb
究竟 — in the end
究竟 (jiūjìng) + Question word / Question
恐怕 — I'm afraid that...
恐怕 (kǒngpà) + Clause
从来 — never in negative contexts
从来 (cónglái) + 都 (dōu)/也 (yě) + 不 (bù)/没 (méi) + Verb / Adj.