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莫非 (could it be that …?)
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A dark office at nine
- The office is dark at nine in the morning and nobody is answering the phone.
- could it be莫非today今天is a holiday放假？ — "Could it be that today is a holiday?"
could it be莫非 + guess？ = could it be that …?
- could it be莫非 introduces a surprised guess, often as a question: "Can it be that …?"
- It is literary; the speaker suspects but isn't sure.
could it be莫非he他is ill生病了？
Complete: “Could it be that he's ill?” ____他生病了？
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莫非 + guess.
Surprise and suspicion
- he他all along一直not不answer接the phone电话，could it be莫非happened出(completed / change)了something什么matter事？ — "He hasn't answered all day — could something have happened?"
- Often with won't do不成 at the end: could it be莫非you你to forget忘(completed / change)了won't do不成？ — "Don't tell me you've forgotten?"
he他all along一直not不answer接the phone电话，could it be莫非happened出了something什么matter事？
Build: “Could something have happened?”
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莫非 + guess.
A guess, not a statement
- could it be莫非 marks an uncertain guess; it does not state a fact.
- It is literary; in speech, don't tell me ...难道 or could it be是不是 is more common: could it be是不是today今天is a holiday放假？
Which is the everyday spoken equivalent of 莫非今天放假？
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是不是…？ is the spoken form.
could it be莫非 versus don't tell me ...难道
- don't tell me ...难道 often challenges (the speaker thinks the answer is "no"): don't tell me ...难道you你not不to know知道(yes/no ?)吗？
- could it be莫非 is closer to a suspicious guess (the speaker thinks it might be "yes").
could it be是不是today今天is a holiday放假？
莫非 states a fact.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
It introduces an uncertain guess.
Recap
- could it be莫非 + guess (won't do不成)？ = could it be that …? (literary suspicion).
- Spoken could it be是不是…？; don't tell me ...难道 challenges.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Sentence patterns.
The office is dark at nine in the morning and nobody is answering the phone. 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.