lẽ nào
Definition
- Phrase (Interrogative / Rhetorical):
- Can it be that...? / Is it possible that...?: Used to form a rhetorical question expressing strong doubt, disbelief, or surprise about a situation, often implying the answer should be "no."
- Surely not...: Used to express that something seems very unlikely or unreasonable to be true.
Usage Examples
- Phrase:
- Lẽ nào anh ấy quên hẹn? (Can it be that he forgot the appointment? / Surely he didn't forget the appointment?)
- Lẽ nào cô ấy không biết sự thật? (Is it possible that she doesn't know the truth? / Surely she must know the truth.)
- Lẽ nào chúng ta lại thua? (Surely we are not going to lose? / Can it be that we will lose again?)
Advanced Usage
- Used to challenge a presupposition or assumed fact, often conveying shock or a sense of injustice.
- Lẽ nào số phận lại khắc nghiệt như vậy? (Can fate really be that cruel? / Surely fate isn't that cruel.)
Variants and Related Words
- Không lẽ: A more colloquial variant with similar meaning, often used interchangeably.
- Không lẽ mình sai? (Could I possibly be wrong? / Surely I'm not wrong?)
Synonyms
- Is it conceivable that...?: Expressing if something can be imagined or believed.
- It can't be that...: A stronger assertion of disbelief.
Related Idioms
- While "lẽ nào" itself is a set phrase, it is commonly used in rhetorical constructions that function idiomatically to express doubt or protest.
- Lẽ nào trời không thương? (Is it possible that heaven has no mercy? / Surely heaven must have some mercy.)