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March 24, 2026
难道(難道)nándào(nan2dao4)
难道 (nán dào) is a phrase used to express disbelief or incredulity, often translated as 'could it be that...?' or 'don't tell me...'. It is commonly used in rhetorical questions to emphasize surprise or to challenge a statement made by someone else.
Strokes22Frequency#569DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing disbelief through phrases like 难道 can reflect a cultural norm of indirect communication, where questioning someone's statement can be a way of showing engagement rather than outright disagreement.
Memory Tip
Imagine a challenging road (难) where you wonder if it could possibly lead to a surprising destination (道). Think of a traveler exclaiming '难道, really?' at an unexpected turn, highlighting their disbelief.
Meanings of 难道
nándào(nan2dao4)
1don't tell me ...
2could it be that...?
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About 难道
难道Simplified
難道Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#569Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 难道
Podcast: 难道
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AI Study Notes for 难道
Usage Notes
难道 is often used in conversational Mandarin and can sometimes appear informal. Be careful not to confuse it with similar phrases like 真的 (zhēn de) which means 'really'. It usually precedes a question and can add a tone of sarcasm or disbelief.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 你应该知道基本的问句结构。在学习难道时，关注其用法在反问句中的应用，例如‘难道你不知道吗？’。
Common Mistakes
Learners often misplace 难道 in sentences, leading to awkward phrasing. For example, saying '你相信难道这个吗？' should be corrected to '难道你相信这个吗？'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 难道
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难道 (nán dào) is a phrase used to express disbelief or incredulity, often translated as 'could it be that...?' or 'don't tell me...'. It is commonly used in rhetorical questions to emphasize surprise or to challenge a statement made by someone else.
When to use 难道
难道 is often used in conversational Mandarin and can sometimes appear informal. Be careful not to confuse it with similar phrases like 真的 (zhēn de) which means 'really'. It usually precedes a question and can add a tone of sarcasm or disbelief.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misplace 难道 in sentences, leading to awkward phrasing. For example, saying '你相信难道这个吗？' should be corrected to '难道你相信这个吗？'.
Write 难道
难
道
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Grammar Patterns of 难道
难道 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
