难怪／怪不得
no wonder; so that’s why
Structure
原因 ， 难怪／怪不得 结果 ； 难怪／怪不得 结果 ， 原来 原因
What it means
“No wonder, so that’s why”: said when you suddenly understand the reason for something you had noticed.
How it is built
Reason，难怪／怪不得 + result: 外面下雪了，怪不得这么冷 (it’s snowing; no wonder it’s so cold). Or result first, reason after 原来: 怪不得他这么高兴，原来他考上大学了.
When to use it
怪不得 is more spoken; 难怪 a little more neutral and fine in writing. Both open their clause. 难怪 is also a verb, “cannot blame”: 这也难怪他 (you can’t blame him).
Watch out
Don’t mix it up with 果然 (1-16), which confirms something you expected beforehand: 怪不得 explains, 果然 confirms.
Examples
原来你在四川住过十年，难怪这么能吃辣。
So you lived in Sichuan for ten years: no wonder you can take so much chilli.
外面下雪了，怪不得这么冷。
It’s snowing outside; no wonder it’s so cold.
怪不得他今天这么高兴，原来他考上大学了。
No wonder he’s so happy today: it turns out he got into university.
Learn this in Lesson 20 · HSK 5: 中国人什么时候开始吃辣 (When China learned to love chillies)
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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