Rhetorical questions use the form of a question to emphasize a
point, and, as such, the question does not require an answer. A
typical English rhetorical question might be: "you're not saying
you actually believe him, are you?" or "just how stupid are you?"
In Chinese, 难道 (nándào) is used as a marker to form this kind of
question.
Structure
难道 + [Rhetorical Question]
Examples
- 难道 你 真的 相信 他 吗？ You're not telling
me you actually believe him?
- 难道 你 是 我 妈 吗？ What are you, my
mother or something?
- 今天 是 我 的 生日，难道 你 不 知道 吗？ Today's
my birthday; you're telling me you didn't know?
- 你 父母 这么 关心 你， 难道 你 一点 都 感觉 不到 吗？Your parents care so much about you;You are not telling me
that you could't feel it at all?
- 他 这么 帅，又 这么 有钱，难道 你 不 想 嫁 给 他 吗？He's so handsome and rich;you are not telling me that you
don't want to marry him?
Note that 难道 can only be used for rhetorical questions which
could be answered with yes or no, and generally end with 吗.
- 难道 我 应该 给 你 多少 钱？Not a 吗
questionHow much money should I give
you?
- 难道你 还 想 在 这 种 公司 工作 多少 年？Not a 吗
questionHow many more years do you want
to work for this kind of company?
- 难道他们 还 要 再 生 几 个 孩子？Not a 吗
questionHow many more kids do they want
to have?
See Also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Websites
Category:
B2 grammar points Category: Adverbs