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不知道 + embedded choice + 好 (unsure what is best)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
Which present?
- It's your mother's birthday tomorrow and you still haven't chosen a gift.
- I我don't不know知道to send送what什么(is best)好。 — "I don't know what would be best to give."
don't不know知道 + Verb + QW + (is best)好
- don't不know知道 + verb + question word + (is best)好 = "don't know what / which / how it would be best to …".
- (is best)好 at the end means "would be good, best": don't不know知道buy买which one哪个(is best)好.
I我don't不know知道buy买which one哪个(is best)好。
Complete: “I don't know what to say.” 我不知道说什么____。
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
不知道 + verb + QW + 好.
Choices between options
- I我don't不know知道to go去Beijing, capital of the…北京(is best)好or / still还是to go去Shanghai municipality…上海(is best)好。 — "I don't know whether it's better to go to Beijing or Shanghai."
- he他don't不know知道what's to be done怎么办(is best)好。 — "He didn't know what to do."
he他didn't不know知道how怎么to handle it办(best)好。
Build: “He didn't know what to do.”
Difficulty 3/5 · 200 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
不知道 + 怎么办 + 好.
A statement, not a question
- The question word is embedded, so there is no question mark: don't不know知道buy买what什么(is best)好。
- (is best)好 goes at the end of the embedded choice, not after know知道: don't不know知道say说what什么(is best)好, not don't不know知道(is best)好say说what什么.
Which sentence is correct?
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
我不知道买哪个好 is right: 好 closes the embedded choice "which one would be best to buy", so it goes at the end.
Asking for advice
- Turn it into a question with you你say说: you你say说I我buy买which one哪个(is best)好？ — "Which do you think I should buy?"
- Or with (yes/no ?)吗: you你know知道buy买which one哪个(is best)好(yes/no ?)吗？
you你say说I我buy买which one哪个(is best)好？
你说我买哪个好？ asks someone for advice.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
你说…好？ turns the dilemma into a question.
Recap
- don't不know知道 + Verb + QW + (is best)好 = don't know what / which / how is best.
- (is best)好 closes the embedded choice; ask advice with you你say说…(is best)好？
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Basic sentence patterns.
It's your mother's birthday tomorrow and you still haven't chosen a gift. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.