Kilo Lingo

(shì bu shì) - is it or isn't it, right? in Mandarin

shìbushì

Traditional: 是不是

Line drawing of 是不是
Coloured illustration of 是不是
HSK 2
#225 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

is it or isn't it, right?

Word origin

A three-syllable A-not-A question pattern built from 是 (shì, to be), 不 (bù, not) and 是 (shì) again, literally 'is not is'. It works as a tag asking for confirmation, like 'right?' or 'isn't it?'.

Origin
compound
Root
是 (shì, to be) + 不 (bù, not) + 是 (shì, to be)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 是

是

Stroke order for 不

不

Stroke order for 是

是

Examples

？

Was it you who did it?

？

Did he come or not?

？

Is it too difficult?

？

Did you forget to bring the keys?

？

Is today Friday?

是不是 (shì bu shì) means is it or isn't it, right?. It is used as a other in everyday Mandarin speech.

Used in

Stories

(1)

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This word is part of lesson 5.