Chinese word

是吗

Pronunciation

Pinyinshì ma

Meaning

  • particleis that right

Example

你要走了，是吗？nǐ yào zǒu le shì ma

You're leaving, are you?

Illustration for 是吗 (is that right)

More examples

你要换工作了，是吗？nǐ yào huàn gōng zuò le shì ma

You're changing jobs, are you?

Core concept

A newly heard statement held up for a quick check of its truth.

Common phrases

  • 听说他结婚了，是吗？tīng shuō tā jié hūn le shì ma

    Is that right

  • 他那么说，是吗？tā nà me shuō shì ma

    Is that right

Similar words

真的吗zhēn de ma: Checks with strong surprise or interest whether a statement is really true.
是吧shì ba: Lightly checks a statement or thought and invites agreement.
对吗duì ma: Asks whether information or a fact is correct.

Definition in Chinese

用于对刚听到的陈述表示惊讶或寻求确认的简短疑问句，常用于口语，相当于询问“这是真的吗？”或对信息作出简短反应。yòng yú duì gāng tīng dào de chén shù biǎo shì jīng yà huò xún qiú què rèn de jián duǎn yí wèn jù cháng yòng yú kóu yǔ xiāng dāng yú xún wèn zhè shì zhēn de ma huò duì xìn xī zuò chū jián duǎn fǎn yìng

Word origin

是 (shì, "to be") + 吗 (ma, "question particle") forms a question that checks whether the statement just heard is true.

Usage tips

  • The same phrase can show genuine surprise or mild doubt, so the speaker's facial expression and tone help show whether the response is friendly or skeptical.

Other meanings

  • reallyinterjection

Word lists with this word