说到／想到哪儿去了
what are you on about? (you have got the wrong idea; also a modest brush-off)
Structure
（你／看你） 想到／说到 哪儿去了 ！
What it means
What are you on about?: not a question about a place, but a way to say someone’s guess or worry has gone off course. Also a modest brush-off.
How it is built
(你／看你) + 想到／说到 + 哪儿去了！: 你想到哪儿去了，我是刚吃过饭 (What gave you that idea? I’ve just eaten, that’s all).
When to use it
想到哪儿去了 corrects a misreading of your motives; 说到哪儿去了 waves away an apology, thanks or praise that goes too far, and sounds warm, not cross. 扯到哪儿去了: the talk has wandered off.
Watch out
Never answer it with a place. Pick the verb: 想到 for a wrong guess, 说到 for over-generous words (您说到哪儿去了，我还差得远呢).
Examples
“你是不是嫌我做的菜不好吃？”“你想到哪儿去了，我是刚吃过饭。”
“Don’t you like my cooking?” “What gave you that idea? I have just eaten, that’s all.”
“这次真是太麻烦您了。”“看您说到哪儿去了，咱们谁跟谁啊！”
“I’m sorry to have put you to so much trouble.” “Don’t be silly, we are practically family!”
“你的中文说得跟中国人一样！”“您说到哪儿去了，我还差得远呢。”
“Your Chinese is as good as a native speaker’s!” “Oh, come now, I still have a long way to go.”
Learn this in Lesson 217 · HSK 9+: 台词里的中国 (Lines from the screen)
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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