inquiring about cause or reason
44.4
什么理由？/ 甚麼理由？shénme lǐyóu? ‘what is the reason?’
什么理由/甚麼理由 shénme lǐyóu is used to inquire about the reason for something. When
the speaker uses this expression, he or she expects an answer.
你有什么理由要跟我离婚？
你有甚麼理由要跟我離婚？
Nǐ yǒu shénme lǐyóu yào gēn wǒ lí hūn?
What is the reason why you want to divorce me?
什么理由你不给我们工钱？
甚麼理由你不給我們工錢？
Shénme lǐyóu nǐ bù gěi wǒmen gōngqian?
What is the reason why you haven’t given us our wages?凭什么？/ 憑甚麼？píng shénme? ‘on what basis?’ ‘by what right?’
凭什么/憑甚麼 píng shénme is a colloquial expression, most often used in speaking.
你凭什么打人？
你憑甚麼打人？
Nǐ píng shénme dǎ ren?
What right do you have to hit people?你凭什么逮捕我？
你憑甚麼逮捕我？
Nǐ píng shénme dàibǔ wǒ?
On what grounds are you arresting me?何故 hégù? and 为何/為何 wéi hé? ‘for what reason?’ ‘why?’
何故 hégù and 为何/為何 wéi hé are used only in formal (usually written) language.
他何故杀人？
他何故殺人？
Tā hégù shā rén?
Why did he kill someone?
为何惊慌？
為何驚慌？
Wéi hé jīnghuāng?
Why are (you) so frightened?C28.6