Chinese Conversation · Level 52
90 words
Chinese word
可不
Pronunciation
Pinyinkě bù
Meaning
- interjectionindeed
Example
他说得没错，可不。tā shuō de méi cuò kě bù
What he said is right, indeed.
More examples
真是太巧了，可不是嘛。zhēn shì tài qiǎo le kě bú shì ma
It really is a coincidence, that's for sure.
Core concept
A compact verbal nod that means the speaker fully agrees with what was just said.
Common phrases
可不是kě bú shì
That's right
可不是嘛kě bú shì ma
it certainly is
Similar words
没错méi cuò: A brief reply meaning that there is no mistake in what was said.
对duì: A brief way to say that a statement is right.
是的shì de: A courteous way to confirm an opinion or fact.
可不是kě bú shì: A very emphatic, everyday reply agreeing with a previous statement.
Definition in Chinese
口语中常用的感叹应答，用以表示对前述话语的赞同或感慨，常独立成句，意义接近“没错”“正是如此”。kóu yǔ zhōng cháng yòng de gǎn tàn yìng dá yòng yǐ biǎo shì duì qián shù huà yǔ de zàn tóng huò gán kǎi cháng dú lì chéng jù yì yì jiē jìn méi cuò zhèng shì rú cǐ
Word origin
可不 (kěbù, "indeed") developed from the rhetorical expression 可不是 (kěbùshì, "is it not so"), so its negative-looking form came to mark emphatic agreement.
Usage tips
- This reply often stands alone after a statement, and its tone shows whether the speaker is warmly agreeing or echoing the statement with irony.
Other meanings
- yesinterjection
- absolutelyinterjection