Rhetorical Adverbs with 何: 何以, 何况, 何尝, 何必, 何不

Pattern

• 何以 + Verb phrase
• 连 + Noun 1 + 都 + Verb phrase ，何况 + Noun 2 + 呢
• 何尝 + 不 + Verb phrase
• 何必 + Verb phrase

Usage

• In HSK 7-9 polemical, oratorical, and literary Chinese, adverbs formed with archaic 何 (hé) inject vivid rhetorical power, asserting strong convictions under the guise of questions: (1) 何以 = "by what means / how on earth", questioning justification or cause in written prose (e.g., 何以解忧 - how to dispel sorrow; 何以见得 - on what grounds is that apparent?); (2) 何况 = "let alone / much less / all the more", introducing an a fortiori escalation usually paired with 连...都...
• (e.g., 连专家都解决不了，何况是我们呢？ - even experts cannot solve it, let alone us!); (3) 何尝 = "when did one ever [not]...", a classic double negative rhetorical device asserting strong affirmative longing or truth (e.g., 我何尝不想休息呢？ = I most certainly DO want to rest!); (4) 何必 = "why is it necessary / why bother", counseling against pointless agitation or formality (e.g., 何必这么客气 - why be so overly polite?); (5) 何不

Examples

1. 1

   我何尝不想休息呢?

   Wǒ hécháng bù xiǎng xiūxí ne?

   How could it be that I don't long to take a rest? (I desire it with all my heart!)

2. 2

   连专家都解决不了,何况是我们呢?

   Lián zhuānjiā dōu jiějué bùliǎo, hékuàng shì wǒmen ne?

   Even leading experts cannot solve this dilemma, let alone ordinary people like us!

3. 3

   何必这么客气,大家都是朋友。

   Hébì zhème kèqi, dàjiā dōu shì péngyou.

   Why be so excessively formal and polite? We are all trusted old friends here!

4. 4