HSK 7
莫非
mò fēi
莫非 - Could it be, or perhaps (used for doubt, conjecture)
Explanation
莫非 (mòfēi) is a modal adverb (an adverb expressing the attitude or nuance of the sentence) used to raise a conjecture that the speaker half-believes and half-doubts, equivalent to "could it be that…, don't tell me…, is it possible that…". The sentence usually carries a nuance of surprise or worry.
莫非 (mòfēi) + [content of the conjecture] + (吗/？). It usually ends with a question mark, and 吗 (ma) may be added at the end to strengthen the interrogative tone.
when inferring a possibility (usually an undesirable one) based on a sign just observed, half asking and half talking to oneself; it leans slightly toward written usage but is still used in speech with the right nuance.
莫非 leans toward the conjecture "could it really be so"; 难道 (nándào, "could it be that") leans toward a rhetorical question emphasizing disbelief. Many 莫非 sentences carry the nuance of 难道 as well.
using 莫非 in a firmly affirmative sentence (wrong, since 莫非 always carries doubt); omitting the question mark/interrogative tone, which strips the sentence of its conjectural nuance.
Examples
She didn't come to school today—could it be that something has happened?
You usually don't study seriously; don't tell me you'll only start getting nervous when the final exam arrives?
Practice
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Learn “莫非” effectively
The grammar point “莫非” (莫非 - Could it be, or perhaps (used for doubt, conjecture)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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