Introduction
A rhetorical question looks like a question but delivers a statement. Chinese has a handful of ready-made frames for this, and ordinary conversation is full of them: 这不是很好吗？(Zhè bú shì hěn hǎo ma?) — Isn't this great? — is not asking anything. It means this is great.
Overview
Structure: 不是……吗？(bú shì … ma?) ／ 能……吗？(néng … ma?) ／ 怎么会……？(zěnme huì …?) ／ 谁让你……？(shéi ràng nǐ …?)
| Pattern | Example | Real meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 不是……吗？ | 你不是知道吗？(Nǐ bú shì zhīdào ma?) | You do know. |
| 这不是……吗？ | 这不是很好吗？(Zhè bú shì hěn hǎo ma?) | This is great. |
| 能……吗？ | 我能不去吗？(Wǒ néng bú qù ma?) | I have to go. |
| 怎么会……？ | 他怎么会不来？(Tā zěnme huì bù lái?) | He'll definitely come. |
| 谁让你……？ | 谁让你不听？(Shéi ràng nǐ bù tīng?) | It's your own fault. |
The meaning is the opposite of the words:
- 你不是知道吗？(Nǐ bú shì zhīdào ma?) — Don't you know? = You do know.
- 他怎么会不来？(Tā zěnme huì bù lái?) — How could he not come? = He is certainly coming.
- A negative frame carries a positive meaning, and the other way round. Nobody is waiting for an answer.
- Delivery does the rest: the same sentence can sound warm between friends and sharp with a stranger.
Examples
这不是很好吗？
Zhè bú shì hěn hǎo ma?
Isn't this great?
你不是中国人吗？
Nǐ bú shì Zhōngguó rén ma?
Aren't you Chinese?
我能不去吗？
Wǒ néng bú qù ma?
How could I not go?
他怎么会不知道？
Tā zěnme huì bù zhīdào?
How could he possibly not know?
谁让你不吃饭？
Shéi ràng nǐ bù chī fàn?
Well, who told you to skip your meal?
你不是说明天去吗？
Nǐ bú shì shuō míngtiān qù ma?
Didn't you say we were going tomorrow?
Usage Notes
- 不是……吗？(bú shì … ma?) is by far the most common frame and the one to learn first. It reminds the listener of something they already know.
- 谁让你……？(shéi ràng nǐ …?) carries a note of "you brought it on yourself" — fine between close friends, rude with anyone else.
- 怎么会 (zěnme huì) expresses disbelief, and 怎么会呢？(Zěnme huì ne?) alone means "no way, surely not".
- Tone: 是 (shì) is 4th tone, so 不 becomes bú — 不是 is bú shì.
- These are questions in form only. Reply to the point being made, not to the literal question: 你不是知道吗？(Nǐ bú shì zhīdào ma?) → 对，我知道。(Duì, wǒ zhīdào.)