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难道…不成?

HSK 6
  • Questions

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

难道Clause不成?

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

Used for rhetorical questions, expressing surprise or disbelief, equivalent to "Could it really be that...?"

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

This is a rhetorical question structure used to emphasize surprise, doubt, or disbelief. The speaker already has an answer in mind and uses this question form to express strong emotion.

不成 (bù chéng) at the end of the sentence reinforces the rhetorical tone of 难道 (nándào), making the question even more forceful or emphatic. In many cases, 不成 can be omitted without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 这么简单的事，难道你还不会做不成？
    繁: 這麼簡單的事，難道你還不會做不成？Zhème jiǎndān de shì, nándào nǐ hái bú huì zuò bùchéng?

    Surely you still know how to do something this simple?

  2. 难道你忘了今天是我的生日不成？
    繁: 難道你忘了今天是我的生日不成？Nándào nǐ wàng le jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì bùchéng?

    Surely you haven't forgotten that today is my birthday?

  3. 我说了这么多，难道你还不明白不成？
    繁: 我說了這麼多，難道你還不明白不成？Wǒ shuō le zhème duō, nándào nǐ hái bù míngbai bùchéng?

    I've said so much, surely you still don't understand?

  4. 他只是个孩子，难道你要跟他计较不成？
    繁: 他只是個孩子，難道你要跟他計較不成？Tā zhǐshì ge háizi, nándào nǐ yào gēn tā jìjiào bùchéng?

    He's just a child, surely you don't mean to argue with him over it?

  5. 难道你真的要放弃这个机会不成？
    繁: 難道你真的要放棄這個機會不成？Nándào nǐ zhēnde yào fàngqì zhège jīhuì bùchéng?

    Are you really going to give up this opportunity?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:难道这是你的书不成？
    Correct:这是你的书吗？

    When asking a genuine question, use a regular question with 吗. 难道...不成 is only used for rhetorical questions to express surprise or incredulity.

  • Wrong:难道你不成去吗？
    Correct:难道你不去不成？

    不成 always stands at the end of a sentence for emphasis and cannot be placed in other positions.