▎哪裡, nǎlĭ, (Adv), rhetorical question

 

Function 哪裡 can also express a rhetorical question in refuting or in doubt, i.e., ‘how can it be possible?’ or ‘cannot possibly...’.

1 一般大學剛畢業的年輕人哪裡有錢買房子？

Yìbān dàxué gāng bìyè de niánqīng rén nǎlǐ yǒu qián mǎi fángzi?

How could young university graduates possibly afford to buy a house?

2 這件事哪裡稀奇了？這種現象越來越普遍了。

Zhè jiàn shì nǎlǐ xīqí le? Zhè zhǒng xiànxiàng yuèláiyuè pǔbiàn le.

What’s so strange about it? It’s become rather common actually.

3 我哪裡是盲目升學？我以後還要念博士呢。

Wǒ nǎlǐ shì mángmù shēngxué? Wǒ yǐhòu hái yào niàn bóshì ne.

What do you mean I keep studying just for the sake of studying? I have plans to do a PhD.

4 你穿起來哪裡不好看？你穿起來跟模特兒一樣漂亮。

Nǐ chuānqǐlái nǎlǐ bù hǎokàn? Nǐ chuānqǐlái gēn mótèr yíyàng piàoliang.

What do you mean it doesn’t look good on you? You look like a model in that.

5 我媽媽連電腦都不會用，哪裡會上網購物？

Wǒ māmā lián diànnǎo dōu bú huì yòng, nǎlǐ huì shàngwǎng gòuwù?

My mom doesn’t even know how to use a computer. How could she possibly shop online?

 

Usage 哪裡, though originally an interrogative spatial pronoun, refers to the meaning of ‘cannot possibly’ here. This 哪裡 should be distinguished from the common response to ‘thank you’.

A：「謝謝。」

‘Xièxie.’

B：「哪裡！哪裡！」

‘Nǎlǐ! Nǎlǐ!’