莫非 mòfēi can it be possible that
can it be possible that; could it be
How to remember 莫非: 莫 cannot + 非 not = can it be possible that.
Characters
How it is used
- Can it be that…? - introduces a surmise or suspicion - 莫非他还不知道? (mòfēi tā hái bù zhīdào?) could it be that he still doesn't know?
- A rhetorical adverb expressing a dawning guess or doubt, often with 不成 at the end.
- Written/literary flavor; conveys 'surely it can't be that…'.