你至于吗？

[Tulee]

Hi guys,

I have noticed this phrase used a lot, and the dictionary definition "that much" does not really seem to cut it.

你至于吗？

Any ideas?

Thanks

[semantic nuance]

Better if you can tell us the context it's used.

[siledouyaoai]

It's generally used in response to someone who is being melodramatic or over the top, going beyond what is reasonable.

So you can say:

你至于这样吗？Do you really have to be like this?

or 不至于吧! Come on! No way!

Context is important.

[creamyhorror]

Hmm, never seen/heard this expression before (although we mostly get Taiwanese shows here). Is this informal or formal?

[yialanliu]

Informal, typically only used while speaking.

Also used very frequently with moans and groans and other ways of emphasis haha (kind of like girly OMG at times)

[semantic nuance]

never seen/heard this expression before (although we mostly get Taiwanese shows here)

I have never heard of that expression as OP posted. So, I guess it's not from Taiwanese shows.

[roddy]

Think of it as a very concise way of saying 'does the current situation really justify what you have just said and / or done'

[歐博思]

http://zhan.renren.com/shibasui?gid=3602888498000681178&from=PubNewFeed&ref=hotnewsfeed&sfet=3731&fin=3&ff_id=

just search the page for "为了看个彩虹您至于么。。。"

They say a picture is worth a thousand words....

[creamyhorror]

Yeah, I get that it basically means 非要(这么做), but I find the grammar of 你至于吗 weird (where's the object?). I'll keep it in mind for when I visit China.

[shinewind]

你至于吗? Do you really have to?

[dannie]

Bear in mins that this is a phrase commonly used by the Chinese in China.

[Wesley Zhu]

Hi, I am a native speaker from southern China and I think 你至于吗？is originally from northern China, but now commonly used in daily conversation.

If used independently, it can be translated as Seriously? Really? You kidding?

-昨天我订了春节回家的飞机票。I booked the flight ticket home for Spring Festival yesterday.

-现在才10月份，你至于吗？Seriously? It's only October now.

The translation "Do you really have to?" is more literal. But it's ok.

[lordsuso]

On 4/9/2012 at 8:29 PM, Wesley Zhu said:

originally from northern China

This expression is constantly used in a 2010 Beijing-based show I'm currently watching (岁月), to the point I just imagined it was the name of one of the characters haha. It is often used without a subject, simply 至于 + an exclamation particle. Glad I found this post!