# Advanced usages of the contrary "倒"

<SentenceQuiz>

- 说 得 _倒_ 容易，那 你 来 ！
  - It's easy for you to just say it. You should give it a try!
- 你 想 得 _倒_ 美 ！不 工作 还 想 拿 工资 ？
  - You must be talking when you sleep. You want to get paid without doing your job?
- 你 想 得 _倒_ 简单 ！怎么 可能 ？
  - What you thought is too simple! How could that be possible?
- 这 个 小 女孩 _倒_ 挺 勇敢 的 。
  - This little girl is quite brave.
- 你 _倒_ 蛮 会 说话 的 。
  - You're pretty good at talking.
- 你们 都 说 这个 菜 太辣了 ，我 _倒_ 不 觉得 。
  - You all said this dish is spicy, but I disagree.
- 别人 都 说 他 跟 她 结婚 是 为了 钱 ，我 _倒_ 不 这么 看 。
  - A lot of people think that he married her because of her money, but I don't think so.
- 很 多 人 认为 钱 是 最 重要 的 ，我 _倒_ 不 这么 想 。
  - A lot of people think that money is the most important, but I don't think so.
- 你 _倒是_ 说话 呀 ！
  - Please say something!
- 你 _倒是_ 说 呀 ！
  - Please tell me!
- 你 _倒是_ 走 啊 ！
  - Walk with me, please!
- 你们 _倒是_ 签 啊 ！
  - Please sign it! (Why are you hesitating?)

</SentenceQuiz>

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(Redirected from [ASGXXP6M](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=ASGXXP6M&redirect=no))

- Related: [B2/倒](/_post/grammar/allsetlearning/B2/倒.md)
- Level: [C1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/C1_grammar_points) / [HSK6](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK6_grammar_points)
- Similar to:
- Used for: [Contrasting](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contrasting), [Expressing attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude)
- Keywords: [倒](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%80%92)

</TOC>

## Indicating A Rebuking Tone with 倒

When using 倒 this way, link it together with a 得.When using this, usually the speaker has a rebuking tone. It's like saying "what you're saying is the opposite." In other words, something is not as said.

### Structure

This grammar pattern is most commonly used with 说, sometimes with 想. 主语限于“你、你们、他、他们”等第二或者第三人称。多用于责备他人。

Subj. + Verb + 得 + 倒 + Adj.

### Examples

- 说 得 _倒_ 容易，那 你 来 ！
  - It's easy for you to just say it. You should give it a try!
- 你 想 得 _倒_ 美 ！不 工作 还 想 拿 工资 ？
  - You must be talking when you sleep. You want to get paid without doing your job?
- 你 想 得 _倒_ 简单 ！怎么 可能 ？
  - What you thought is too simple! How could that be possible?

## Giving An Emphasis with 倒

### Used in An Affirmative Sentence

倒 is mostly used with adjectives in this case to indicate the speaker is a little surprised.

Subj. + 倒 + Adj.

A few examples:

- 这 个 小 女孩 _倒_ 挺 勇敢 的 。
  - This little girl is quite brave.
- 你 _倒_ 蛮 会 说话 的 。
  - You're pretty good at talking.

A useful little phrase to admit concession is 那倒也是, something like "I guess so, I hadn't thought of it like that before." Or if on the contrary you are unwilling to concede, the phrases below can be used:

### Used in A Negative Sentence

It's mostly used in these two pattens below:

- ⋯⋯ ，我 倒 不 觉得 。
- ⋯⋯ ，我 倒 不 这么 + 看 / 想 / 认为 。

A few examples:

- 你们 都 说 这个 菜 太辣了 ，我 _倒_ 不 觉得 。
  - You all said this dish is spicy, but I disagree.
- 别人 都 说 他 跟 她 结婚 是 为了 钱 ，我 _倒_ 不 这么 看 。
  - A lot of people think that he married her because of her money, but I don't think so.
- 很 多 人 认为 钱 是 最 重要 的 ，我 _倒_ 不 这么 想 。
  - A lot of people think that money is the most important, but I don't think so.

## Using 倒是 in An Imperative Sentence

This pattern is used to urge somebody to response quickly.

### Structure

你 + 倒是 + Verb + 呀 / 啊

### Examples

- 你 _倒是_ 说话 呀 ！
  - Please say something!
- 你 _倒是_ 说 呀 ！
  - Please tell me!
- 你 _倒是_ 走 啊 ！
  - Walk with me, please!
- 你们 _倒是_ 签 啊 ！
  - Please sign it! (Why are you hesitating?)

## Sources and further reading

### Books

- [Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Practicing_HSK_Grammar_(%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%B2%BE%E8%AE%B2%E7%B2%BE%E7%82%BC)>) (p.38) [→buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI)
- [Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Common_Chinese_Patterns_330_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%B8%B8%E7%94%A8%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F330%E4%BE%8B)>) (pp. 64) [→buy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473)