难道 nándào could it be that ...?
could it be that ...?; don't tell me ...
How to remember 难道: 难 difficult + 道 way = could it be that ...?.
Characters
How it is used
- Marks a rhetorical question expecting a 'no/surely not' answer - 难道你忘了吗？ (nándào nǐ wàngle ma?) don't tell me you forgot?; 难道这样也不行？ (nándào zhèyàng yě bùxíng?) you mean even this won't do?
- Often paired with a final 吗 or 不成. It conveys surprise, disbelief, or challenge, not a genuine question.
- Adverb placed early in the sentence; the speaker already has a strong opinion.
Example sentences
- 你难道是吃干饭的？难道就这样算了不成？ Nǐ nándào shì chīgānfàn de? Nándào jiù zhèyàng suàn le bù chéng？Are you that incapable? How can we let it go at that?
- 难道你不想念什么吗？ Nándào nǐ bù xiǎngniàn shénme ma?Don't you miss anything?
- 难道不该有人帮汤姆吗？ Nándào bùgāi yǒurén bāng tāngmǔ ma?Shouldn't someone be helping Tom?