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何尝不…

HSK 6
  • Questions

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject何尝不Verb/Adjective(Object)

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

Used to emphasize affirmation in the form of a rhetorical question, meaning "how could it not be...".

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

何尝不 is a rhetorical question structure used to emphasize an affirmative meaning. Despite its negative form (不), it expresses the completely opposite sense: "how could it not...", "isn't it the case that...", "why would it not...".

This structure often carries a slight tone of justification or lament, implying that the speaker truly does/feels that way, contrary to what the listener may think. It is a fairly formal expression, more commonly found in written language than in everyday speech.

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 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?

  2. 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 earnest effort and good intentions?

  3. 我何尝不想帮你？只是没能力。
    繁: 我何嘗不想幫你？只是沒能力。Wǒ hécháng bù xiǎng bāng nǐ? Zhǐshì méi nénglì.

    I would love to help you, but I simply don't have the ability to do so.

  4. 他何尝不知道自己错了？
    繁: 他何嘗不知道自己錯了？Tā hécháng bù zhīdào zìjǐ cuò le?

    Doesn't he know that he was wrong?

  5. 这何尝不是一个好办法？
    繁: 這何嘗不是一個好辦法？Zhè hécháng bù shì yí ge hǎo bànfǎ?

    Isn't this perhaps a good solution?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:你何尝不吃饭？
    Correct:你为什么不吃饭？

    何尝不 is a rhetorical question used to affirm something, not a genuine question. Use 为什么 to ask why instead.

  • Wrong:我何尝不去上课。
    Correct:我不想去上课。

    This sentence means "How could I not go to school?", that is, "I did go". It is used for affirmation, not negation of the action.