莫非…不成?
HSK 6- Questions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to ask a rhetorical counter-question, expressing doubt or surprise about a certain judgment.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is a rhetorical question pattern, used when you notice something strange and want to venture a guess. It does not actually require an answer, but mainly expresses surprise or suspicion. 莫非 means roughly "could it be that" or "don't tell me that." The element 不成 at the end of the sentence further reinforces this tone, like adding "...or what?" / "...really?" in English. This structure is slightly more literary in register compared to 难道.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你一口饭都没吃，莫非生病了不成？繁: 你一口飯都沒吃，莫非生病了不成？Nǐ yī kǒu fàn dōu méi chī, mòfēi shēngbìng le bùchéng?
You haven't eaten a single bite of rice—could it be that you've fallen ill?
- 他今天一句话也不说，莫非有什么心事不成？繁: 他今天一句話也不說，莫非有什麼心事不成？Tā jīntiān yí jù huà yě bù shuō, mòfēi yǒu shénme xīnshì bùchéng?
He hasn't said a single word all day today; could it be that something is troubling him?
- 都一个星期了，莫非包裹寄丢了不成？繁: 都一個星期了，莫非包裹寄丟了不成？Dōu yí gè xīngqī le, mòfēi bāoguǒ jì diū le bùchéng?
It's already been a week; could it be that the package got lost in the mail?
- 你买这么多东西，莫非中彩票了不成？繁: 你買這麼多東西，莫非中彩票了不成？Nǐ mǎi zhème duō dōngxi, mòfēi zhòng cǎipiào le bùchéng?
You're buying so many things; could it be that you won the lottery?
- 他来得这么早，莫非太阳从西边出来了不成？繁: 他來得這麼早，莫非太陽從西邊出來了不成？Tā lái de zhème zǎo, mòfēi tàiyáng cóng xībiān chūlái le bùchéng?
He arrived so early; could the sun be rising in the west?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:莫非这是你的书不成？Correct:这是你的书吗？
莫非...不成 is a rhetorical question expressing surprise, not used to ask for ordinary information.
- Wrong:他没来，莫非忘了？Correct:他没来，莫非忘忘了不成？
The 不成 at the end of a sentence is part of a structure that emphasizes a tone of doubt and rhetorical effect.