谁知道

誰知道

shéizhīdào

phrase HSK 7-9

Meanings

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

谁知道他会突然辞职？

Shéizhīdào tā huì tūrán cízhí?

Who would have thought he'd suddenly resign?

谁知道明天会怎样。

Shéizhīdào míngtiān huì zěnyàng.

Who knows what tomorrow will be like.

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.

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