The phrase “难道不是吗” (nándào bù shì ma) is indeed a rhetorical question in Chinese, used to express surprise, disbelief, or to emphasize a point. It implies that the speaker is almost certain of something and is asking for confirmation in a way that expects agreement.
Explanation:
- “难道” (nándào): This phrase is used to introduce a rhetorical question, often conveying a sense of disbelief or surprise. It can be understood as “Could it be that” or “Is it possible that.”
- “不是” (bù shì): Means “is not” or “isn’t.”
- “吗” (ma): A question particle used to form yes-no questions.
Translation:
The phrase “难道不是吗” can be translated as “Isn’t it?” or “Could it be that it’s not?” depending on the context.
Usage Examples:
- Situation: Someone tells you something surprising, and you seek confirmation.
- 你难道不觉得很奇怪吗？ (Nǐ nándào bù juéde hěn qíguài ma?)
- Translation: “Don’t you think it’s strange?”
- Situation: Discussing something you believe to be true.
- 难道这不是真的？ (Nándào zhè bù shì zhēn de?)
- Translation: “Could it be that this isn’t true?”
- Situation: Expressing frustration or disbelief.
- 我已经解释了这么多，难道你还不明白吗？ (Wǒ yǐjīng jiěshìle zhème duō, nándào nǐ hái bù míngbái ma?)
- Translation: “I’ve explained so much, and you still don’t understand?”
In these examples, “难道不是吗” and similar constructions are used to emphasize the speaker’s viewpoint while subtly expecting agreement.
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