不…才怪呢
it would be strange if not …; bound to …
Structure
不 动词／形容词 才怪（呢）
What it means
An ironic double negative: “it would be strange if not X”, which means X is certain.
How it is built
不 + verb／adjective + 才怪（呢）: 他天天开夜车，不累才怪！ (he burns the midnight oil every night; of course he’s worn out!)
When to use it
Spoken, often a little exasperated. Usually follows a clause giving the cause: 你这样跟老板说话，他不生气才怪呢.
Watch out
Without 不 it flips: 他会按时来才怪呢 means he certainly won’t come on time. Check you have 不 when you mean “bound to”.
Examples
这么多人抢这么少的岗位，竞争不激烈才怪呢。
So many people chasing so few posts: of course the competition is fierce.
他天天开夜车，不累才怪！
He burns the midnight oil every night. No wonder he’s worn out!
你这样跟老板说话，他不生气才怪呢。
Talk to the boss like that and he is bound to get angry.
Learn this in Lesson 63 · HSK 6: 考公热 (The rush for government jobs)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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