LEARN + CHINESE / 115 of 300 HSK 3
That’s the Part I Really Want You to Notice例 · 这道题一点儿也不难
“I’m not tired at all.” “Didn’t we agree to meet at seven?” “It was Mei who called.” Chinese can make a negative absolute, use a rhetorical question to nudge the listener, or focus one detail with 是…的. Each pattern gives emphasis a different target.
Make a Negative Absolute
一点儿也不 means “not at all.” Put it before the quality or action being denied.
这道题一点儿也不难。
zhè dào tí yìdiǎnr yě bù nán.
This question isn’t difficult at all.
我一点儿也不喜欢喝咖啡。
wǒ yìdiǎnr yě bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi.
I don’t like coffee at all.
Hint · 힌트
Put 不 immediately before the word being denied: 一点儿也不难, 一点儿也不喜欢.
Turn a Reminder Into a Question
不是…吗 and 难道…吗 are questions in form, but the speaker usually expects agreement rather than new information.
你不是已经看过这部电影了吗？
nǐ bú shì yǐjīng kànguò zhè bù diànyǐng le ma?
Haven’t you already seen this movie?
难道他不知道这件事吗？
nándào tā bù zhīdào zhè jiàn shì ma?
Doesn’t he know about this? Surely he does.
Hint · 힌트
A rhetorical question can sound reproachful. Use it when the listener is expected to know or agree with the point.
Focus a Detail
Use 是…的 to stress a detail such as who, when, or how an event happened.
这本书是我昨天买的。
zhè běn shū shì wǒ zuótiān mǎi de.
I bought this book yesterday (that is the detail being emphasized).
我是坐火车来的。
wǒ shì zuò huǒchē lái de.
I came by train (that is the detail being emphasized).
Hint · 힌트
In 是…的 sentences, the event is usually already known; 是…的 points to the detail that answers the current question.
In Real Life
Use these forms to correct, reassure, or highlight a detail. The context and intonation tell the listener whether the emphasis sounds firm, surprised, or corrective.
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
zhè | this |
dào | (measure for questions/courses) |
tí | topic; problem; question |
yīdiǎnr | a little bit |
yě | also; too |
bù | not; no |
nán | difficult |
xǐhuan | to like |
hē | to drink |
kāfēi | coffee |
yǐjīng | already |
guò | to pass; (particle) |
bù | part; section; ministry |
diànyǐng | movie; film |
nándào | could it be that...? |
zhīdào | to know |
shìqing | matter; thing |
běn | volume (book measure word) |
shū | book |
zuótiān | yesterday |
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