The structure 不知…的

The structure 不知…的

is used in spoken language. A question word comes in the middle of the pattern. Sometimes a verb is placed after the question word.

Scheme

不知

question word

(a verb)

的

Examples

不知怎么的，我的眼泪止不住地往下流

I don’t know why, but tears won’t stop falling

bù zhī zěnme de, wǒ de yǎnlèi zhǐbuzhù de wǎng xià liú

不知谁说的，他才是凶手

I don’t know who said it, but he really is the killer

bù zhī shéi shuō de, tā cái shì xiōngshǒu

不知哪儿去的，他刚才就在我的身边

I don’t know where he went, but he was just here with me

bù zhī nǎr qù de, tā gāngcái jiù zài wǒ de shēnbiān