谁知道

誰知道

shéizhīdào

phrase HSK 7

Meanings

Literally 'who knows' — used rhetorically to express surprise or uncertainty

Shéi zhīdào tā huì tūrán cízhí?

Who would have thought he'd suddenly resign?

Shéi zhīdào míngtiān huì zěnyàng.

Who knows what tomorrow will be like.

Wǒ yǐwéi hěn jiǎndān, shéi zhīdào zhème fùzá.

I thought it was simple — who knew it would be so complicated.

usage

谁知道 is often used rhetorically, not as a real question. It expresses surprise at an unexpected outcome, similar to English 'who would have thought'.

grammar

When used mid-sentence (我以为…，谁知道…), it functions as a transition meaning 'but unexpectedly'. When used alone, it means 'nobody knows'.

谁 shéi

知 zhī

道 dào