你不是要参加比赛吗
“Aren't you supposed to be in a competition?”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
庄庄 你怎么来了
“Zhuang Zhuang, why are you here?”
你不是 要 参加比赛 吗
“Aren't you supposed to be in a competition?”
妈 你病多久了
“Mom, how long have you been sick?”
“You should not be here; your competition is too important to skip on my account.”
Chinese parents often prioritize their children's career and academic achievements over their own well-being, feeling guilty if an illness distracts their child.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
Weren't you supposed to... / Isn't it true that...
A common rhetorical pattern used to point out a contradiction between expectations and the current situation.
participate in a competition
A standard verb-object collocation for entering a tournament, contest, or athletic event.
Turns the statement into a rhetorical question seeking confirmation and emphasizing unexpectedness.
