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Expressing the self-evident with 吗 ("ma")

嘛 ma

Particle
HSK 3

Structure

Statement + 嘛

Definition

使用“吗”构成反问句，强调某种情况是显而易见的或不言自明的。

Using 吗 to form a rhetorical question that expresses something is self-evident or obvious.

Usage

该结构通常以“不是...吗”、“不...吗”或“难道...吗”等形式出现，用于反问，强调事实显而易见。说话者认为对方应该已经知道或同意该事实。

This structure often appears as '不是...吗', '不...吗', or '难道...吗', used in rhetorical questions to emphasize that something is obvious. The speaker believes the listener should already know or agree with the fact.

Examples

  • 1 你不是学生吗？怎么不去上课？ (Aren't you a student? Why aren't you going to class?)
  • 2 这不是你的书吗？为什么放在我这里？ (Isn't this your book? Why is it here with me?)
  • 3 难道你不知道吗？他昨天就说了。 (Don't you know? He said it yesterday.)
  • 4 她不是你的朋友吗？你应该帮她。 (Isn't she your friend? You should help her.)
  • 5 这不就是我们要找的地方吗？ (Isn't this the place we are looking for?)

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