<pre><code>老王回答：“所有的家具都是我太太挑选的。”

我终于忍不住问道：“这房子里究竟哪一样，是你挑选的呢？”

老王思考了片刻，说：“我太太。”
</code></pre>
<p>My translation goes like this</p>
<pre><code>Lao Wang replied: &quot;All the furniture was my wife's decision.&quot; 

I finally couldn't help asking, &quot;Is there anything in the house that was your decision?&quot; 

Lao Wang thought for a moment and said, &quot;My wife.&quot;
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-05T14:11:17.067Z
2021-07-05T14:11:17.067Z
modnar
<p>I think the period mark is a typo, the sentence only makes sense without it.</p>
<p>这房子里究竟哪一样。是你挑选的呢 (X)</p>
<p>这房子里究竟哪一样(東西)是你挑选的呢 (O) - What (thing) in the house was actually chosen by you?</p>
<p>The punchline is '我太太' (my wife) -- The only thing in the house that was chosen by him was his wife</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-07-04T22:27:01.000Z
2021-07-04T23:44:27.647Z
2021-07-04T23:44:27.647Z
Tang Ho
<p>After moving to a new place, friends are visiting Lao Wang.  It turns out his wife has decided the curtains, carpet, etc.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>……老王回答：“所有的家具都是我太太挑选的。”我终于忍不住问道：“<strong>这房子里究竟哪一样</strong>。是你挑选的呢？”老王思考了片刻，说：“我太太。”<br />
<sub><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9CpQbb6IFs&amp;t=1135s" rel="nofollow noreferrer">HSK5 past exam H51224</a>, questions 31 and 32</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>In this listening problem, I don't quite understand the nuance of the last question.  I'm not 100% sure I'm hearing it correctly.  I'm expecting this to be a joke of some kind.  It says something like:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I finally couldn't help but ask: &quot;This place is the same.  Did you choose it?&quot;  Lao Wang thought for a bit and replied: &quot;My wife.&quot;</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This doesn't quite make sense to me.  I feel like I'm missing something, noting it's possible I misheard something.  (I was expecting a joke along the lines of &quot;So, what about this place did you choose?&quot;  &quot;My wife.&quot;)</p>
<p><strong>Question</strong>: Am I mishearing 这房子里究竟哪一样, and if not, how do I understand it?</p>

<meaning-in-context><listening>
Am I mishearing 这房子里究竟哪一样, and if not, how do I understand it?
# Am I mishearing 这房子里究竟哪一样, and if not, how do I understand it?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-07-04)

After moving to a new place, friends are visiting Lao Wang. It turns out his wife has decided the curtains, carpet, etc.

> ……老王回答：“所有的家具都是我太太挑选的。”我终于忍不住问道：“**这房子里究竟哪一样**。是你挑选的呢？”老王思考了片刻，说：“我太太。”  
> [HSK5 past exam H51224](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9CpQbb6IFs&t=1135s), questions 31 and 32

In this listening problem, I don't quite understand the nuance of the last question. I'm not 100% sure I'm hearing it correctly. I'm expecting this to be a joke of some kind. It says something like:

> I finally couldn't help but ask: "This place is the same. Did you choose it?" Lao Wang thought for a bit and replied: "My wife."

This doesn't quite make sense to me. I feel like I'm missing something, noting it's possible I misheard something. (I was expecting a joke along the lines of "So, what about this place did you choose?" "My wife.")

**Question**: Am I mishearing 这房子里究竟哪一样, and if not, how do I understand it?

**Tags:** meaning-in-context, listening


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-07-04. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

I think the period mark is a typo, the sentence only makes sense without it.

这房子里究竟哪一样。是你挑选的呢 (X)

这房子里究竟哪一样(東西)是你挑选的呢 (O) - What (thing) in the house was actually chosen by you?

The punchline is '我太太' (my wife) -- The only thing in the house that was chosen by him was his wife


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-07-05. Score: 4

老王回答：“所有的家具都是我太太挑选的。”

我终于忍不住问道：“这房子里究竟哪一样，是你挑选的呢？”

老王思考了片刻，说：“我太太。”

My translation goes like this
Lao Wang replied: "All the furniture was my wife's decision." 

I finally couldn't help asking, "Is there anything in the house that was your decision?" 

Lao Wang thought for a moment and said, "My wife."


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