难道
HSK 4- Questions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
难道 is used in rhetorical questions to express surprise or disbelief about something.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The adverb 难道 is used to introduce a rhetorical question, expressing the speaker's surprise, doubt, or disbelief. It is equivalent to "could it be that," "don't tell me," or "is it possible that" in English.
The speaker does not actually seek an answer, but rather uses the question to emphasize the opposite point. For example, "难道你不知道吗？" (Don't tell me you don't know?) is in fact an assertion that "You must certainly know!" The sentence typically ends with 吗.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 这么简单，难道你不会吗？繁: 這麼簡單，難道你不會嗎？Zhème jiǎndān, nándào nǐ bú huì ma?
It's so simple, surely you can do it?
- 难道你忘了我们今天的约会？繁: 難道你忘了我們今天的約會？Nándào nǐ wàng le wǒmen jīntiān de yuēhuì?
Did you forget our appointment today?
- 外面下大雨，难道你还要出门吗？繁: 外面下大雨，難道你還要出門嗎？Wàimiàn xià dàyǔ, nándào nǐ hái yào chūmén ma?
It's raining heavily outside, do you still want to go out?
- 他说了这么多，难道你还不懂吗？繁: 他說了這麼多，難道你還不懂嗎？Tā shuō le zhème duō, nándào nǐ hái bù dǒng ma?
He has said so much, surely you still don't understand?
- 难道你真的相信他说的吗？繁: 難道你真的相信他說的嗎？Nándào nǐ zhēnde xiāngxìn tā shuō de ma?
You don't really believe what he said, do you?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:难道他是老师。Correct:难道他是老师吗？
难道 is used in rhetorical questions, not in declarative sentences. The sentence must end with a question mark.
- Wrong:难道他是谁？Correct:他是谁？
Do not combine 难道 with interrogative pronouns like 谁, 什么; it is only used in yes/no questions.