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莫非 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
莫非mòfēican it be possible thatHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #12973, Very Hard
莫非mòfēicould it beHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #12973, Very Hard
mòfēi(mo4fei1)mo fei T4
  1. 1can it be possible that
  2. 2could it be
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March 24, 2026

莫非mòfēi(mo4fei1)

The term 莫非 (mo4 fei1) is used to express doubt or speculation about a situation, often implying that something might be true. It translates to 'can it be possible that' or 'could it be' and is typically used in conversational contexts when someone is pondering a possibility or a surprising outcome.

Strokes18Frequency#12973DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The usage of 莫非 reflects a cultural tendency in China to approach discussions with subtleness, often hinting at possibilities rather than making outright claims. This mirrors the larger Chinese communication style that values indirectness.

Memory tip

Imagine a mysterious fog (莫) hiding the truth, making you wonder if something could be true (非). Picture yourself standing in the fog, asking, 'Could it be that I am lost?' This links the sound and meaning of 莫非 with the image of uncertainty and questioning.

Meanings of 莫非

mòfēi(mo4fei1)
1can it be possible that
2could it be
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About 莫非

莫非Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 莫非

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning. 莫非 is often used in informal conversations, but can also appear in literary contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '莫非是...' (Could it be that...?) to introduce speculation.

HSK Study Tips

While 莫非 is not a standard HSK word, it connects with the HSK vocabulary around questioning and speculation. Focus on the tones and practice using it in context to express doubt or curiosity in conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 莫非 with similar expressions like 难道 (nán dào) which is more assertive. For example, saying '难道你不去?' (Aren't you going?) instead of '莫非你不去?' (Could it be that you are not going?) changes the tone of the question.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 莫非

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Component characters

莫mòdo not
10 strokes艹
View full entry
非fēito not be
HSK 78 strokes非
View full entry

How to say can it be possible that in Chinese

“can it be possible that” in Chinese is莫非mòfēi

The term 莫非 (mo4 fei1) is used to express doubt or speculation about a situation, often implying that something might be true. It translates to 'can it be possible that' or 'could it be' and is typically used in conversational contexts when someone is pondering a possibility or a surprising outcome.

When to use 莫非

Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning. 莫非 is often used in informal conversations, but can also appear in literary contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '莫非是...' (Could it be that...?) to introduce speculation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 莫非 with similar expressions like 难道 (nán dào) which is more assertive. For example, saying '难道你不去?' (Aren't you going?) instead of '莫非你不去?' (Could it be that you are not going?) changes the tone of the question.

Write 莫非

莫
非

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Frequently asked questions about 莫非

It is primarily used in spoken language and informal writing, but can appear in literary texts.

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