Chinese word

是不是

Pronunciation

Pinyinshì bù shì

Meaning

  • verbif

Example

我想知道你是不是日本人。wǒ xiǎng zhī dào nǐ shì bú shì rì běn rén

I want to know if you are Japanese.

Illustration for 是不是 (if)

More examples

他是不是学生？tā shì bú shì xué shēng

Is he a student?

Core concept

A speaker sets an idea beside its negative form to check which possibility matches reality.

Common phrases

  • 他是不是学生tā shì bú shì xué shēng

    if he is a student

  • 你是不是忙nǐ shì bú shì máng

    if you are busy

Similar words

能不能néng bù néng: Questions whether an action is possible because of ability or conditions.
会不会huì bú huì: Questions whether something may happen.
有没有yǒu méi yǒu: Questions whether something or someone is present or available, or whether someone has it.

Definition in Chinese

口语中用来构成A不A疑问，表示对某种判断的怀疑或确认，可置于句首、句中或句末，含义与“是否”相近但更口语化。kóu yǔ zhōng yòng lái gòu chéng A bù A yí wèn biǎo shì duì móu zhǒng pàn duàn de huái yí huò què rèn kě zhì yú jù shǒu jù zhōng huò jù mò hán yì yǔ shì fǒu xiāng jìn dàn gèng kóu yǔ huà

Word origin

是 (shì, "to be") + 不 (bù, "not") + 是 (shì, "to be") turns one judgment into two choices, true or not true, which gives the question its checking meaning.

Usage tips

  • This form is useful when a speaker has a guess and wants the other person to confirm it or correct it.

Other meanings

  • could it beparticle
  • isn't itparticle

Word lists with this word