何尝
HSK 6- Questions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
何尝 is used in rhetorical questions to emphasize the opposite, meaning 'when has it ever not been the case that...'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
何尝 is an adverb used in rhetorical questions to express strong affirmation. Although it takes the form of a question, it is not used to inquire but to emphasize the opposite meaning. It is equivalent to "when has it ever not been the case that…" or "isn't it that…?"
The construction 何尝不/没 is very common. 何尝不 means "of course it is/that is the case," while 何尝没 means "of course it has happened before." This usage is literary and formal in register.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我何尝不想家呢？繁: 我何嘗不想家呢？Wǒ hécháng bù xiǎng jiā ne?
How could I not miss home?
- 你的苦心我何尝不明白？繁: 你的苦心我何嘗不明白？Nǐ de kǔxīn wǒ hécháng bù míngbai?
How could I not understand your good intentions?
- 这何尝不是一个好办法？繁: 這何嘗不是一個好辦法？Zhè hécháng bú shì yí ge hǎo bànfǎ?
Isn't this a good solution?
- 为了项目，我何尝没努力过？繁: 為了項目，我何嘗沒努力過？Wèile xiàngmù, wǒ hécháng méi nǔlì guò?
Have I not made efforts for the project?
- 他何尝不知道这件事？繁: 他何嘗不知道這件事？Tā hécháng bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì?
How could he not know about this matter?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:你何尝去过北京？Correct:你什么时候去过北京？
何尝 is not used to ask 'when'. It is used for rhetorical questions, not information questions. To ask about time, use 什么时候.
- Wrong:我何尝想过这件事。Correct:我从来没想过这件事。
何尝 carries the opposite affirmative meaning. To express 'have never' or 'never', use the adverb 从来没.