I know, right?

[melissalaine]

I can't figure out how I would say this in Chinese. (Or said in my Canadian accent, 'I know, eh?' )

[davoosh]

I think 是吧 is commonly used in this context.

[Mouseneb]

对啊！

[wushucrab20]

I think 可不是嘛 captures it well.

[somethingfunny]

是不是

[edelweis]

My understanding is that the English phrase can be used / is used even when no one has said anything before.

The situation makes something unexpected obvious, at least one other person is staring, and the "I know, right" is used to share one's understanding and amusement/embarrassment/amazement... at the situation with that person, without expliciting anything, maybe with a mutual glance and facial expression.

Is this correct?

Can the Chinese expressions above be used the same way?

I can't think of any exactly similar expression in French. Maybe something like "ah bin ouais." with short vowels and high high low intonation and a raising of the eyebrows.

[Observer]

I think 是吧 is commonly used in this context.

Interesting ... I know one person who says this a lot and I could never figure out the exact shade of meaning.

Another expression that comes to mind is 是不是了(了 pronouned liao), I wonder if that also carries the same meaning. Again, it is the same person that uses this expression.

[roddy]

I like 就是嘛

[somethingfunny]

edelweis, for the situation you're talking about I'd probably go for the confused look accompanied by "我也不知道"

[edelweis]

@somethingfunny: thanks.