谁知道

誰知道

shéizhīdào

phrase HSK 7-9

Meanings

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

HSK 2

谁知道明天会怎样。

Shéizhīdào míngtiān huì zěnyàng.

Who knows what tomorrow will be like.

HSK 3

我以为很简单，谁知道这么复杂。

Wǒ yǐwéi hěn jiǎndān, shéizhīdào zhème fùzá.

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

HSK 5

谁知道他会突然辞职？

Shéizhīdào tā huì tūrán cízhí?

Who would have thought he'd suddenly resign?

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