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  3. Expressing "could it be possible that" with 莫非 ("mòfēi")

Expressing "could it be possible that" with 莫非 ("mòfēi")

莫非 mòfēi

Sentence patterns
HSK 5

Structure

Fact, + 莫非 + conjecture + (不成)? Subject + 莫非 + rhetorical question 莫非 + Subject + rhetorical question

Translations

  • asks 'could it be that…?'

Definition

莫非（mò fēi）是一种表达推测或疑问的副词，常用于问句中，表示“难道……”、“会不会是……”，带有不确定、猜测或惊讶的语气。

莫非 (mò fēi) is an adverb used in questions to express speculation, doubt, or surprise, meaning 'could it be that...', 'is it possible that...'.

Usage

莫非通常放在句首或主语之后，引出一个问句，表示对某事的猜测或疑问，有时带有反向或反问的语气。常用于口语和书面语。

莫非 is typically placed at the beginning of a sentence or after the subject, introducing a question that expresses a guess or doubt about something, sometimes with a rhetorical or surprised tone. It is used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

  • 1 他到现在还没来，莫非出什么事了？(He hasn't arrived yet; could it be that something happened?)
  • 2 你突然这么热情，莫非有什么事要求我？(You're suddenly so enthusiastic; could it be that you need something from me?)
  • 3 她一直不说话，莫非是在生气？(She hasn't said a word; could it be that she's angry?)
  • 4 外面黑漆漆的，莫非要下雨了？(It's pitch black outside; could it be that it's going to rain?)
  • 5 你一直在看手机，莫非在等重要的消息？(You've been looking at your phone all the time; could it be that you're waiting for an important message?)
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