何尝
when have I ever…? / it is not that I do not…
Structure
主语 何尝 动词 …？（= 从来没有） ／ 主语 何尝不 动词 …？（= 当然）
What it means
A rhetorical “when ever?” that makes a point and expects no answer. 何尝 + positive denies; 何尝不 + verb affirms.
How it is built
Subject + 何尝 + verb…？ = never: 我何尝说过这样的话？ (when did I ever say that?) Subject + 何尝不 + verb…？ = of course: 我何尝不想去？ (of course I want to go).
When to use it
Gentler and more literary than 难道; common in essays and heartfelt talk. 何尝不 often comes before 只是／可是, explaining why the wish came to nothing.
Watch out
Don’t get the direction backwards: 何尝不想 = 当然想, a yes. Don’t mix it up with 何必 (why bother; 何必…呢, lesson 2-3) or 何况 (let alone; lesson 1-19).
Examples
中国玩家何尝不想玩本国做的大作？
Do Chinese players not want to play big games made at home? Of course they do.
我何尝说过这样的话？你别冤枉人。
When did I ever say such a thing? Don’t accuse me unfairly.
失败一次，何尝不是一件好事？
Failing once, is that not a good thing in its way?
Learn this in Lesson 67 · HSK 6: 《黑神话：悟空》 (Black Myth: Wukong and the games industry)
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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