shì bú shì Question

Making Question with 是不是 shìbúshì

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the phrase 是不是 shìbúshì is commonly used to form “yes-no question” or to seek confirmation from someone. It is equivalent to the English phrase “isn’t it?” or “right?”

Structure

Statement + 是不是 shìbúshì

In this pattern, the speaker is seeking confirmation for information that is already known or evident from the context.

你nǐ会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén， 是不是shìbúshì？
You speak Chinese, right?

那nà家jiā餐厅cāntīng要yào先xiān预约yùyuē， 是不是shìbúshì？
We need to make a reservation for that restaurant, right?

你nǐ家jiā也yě有yǒu狗gǒu， 是不是shìbúshì？
You also have a dog, don’t you?

你们nǐmen还hái要yào很hěn久jiǔ才cái会huì好hǎo， 是不是shìbúshì？
It will take a long time for you to get ready, right?

爸爸bàba还没háiméi回来huílái， 是不是shìbúshì？
Dad’s not back yet, is he?

是不是 shìbúshì + Predicate

Again, In this pattern, the speaker is seeking confirmation for old information, which is different from the structure using 吗 ma.

  • 你nǐ有yǒu女朋友nǚpéngyou吗ma？
    Do you have a girlfriend?
    This sentence is asking a question. The speaker has no clue of the answer.
  • 你nǐ有yǒu没有méiyǒu女朋友nǚpéngyou？
    Do you have a girlfriend or not?
    This sentence is also asking a question. The speaker has no clue of the answer.
  • 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì有yǒu女朋友nǚpéngyou？
    You have a girlfriend, right?
    This question is seeking confirmation, as the speaker has already assumed the answer.

啊a！ 我wǒ是不是shìbúshì少shǎo买mǎi了le一张yìzhāng票piào？
Oh no! Did I forget to buy one ticket?

他的tāde说法shuōfǎ是不是shìbúshì很hěn容易róngyì让ràng人rén误会wùhuì！
Is it very easy for people to misunderstand what he has said?

我们wǒmen约yuē在zài公馆gōngguǎn站zhàn是不是shìbúshì比较bǐjiào近jìn？
Meeting at Gongguan Station, is it closer, right?

我们wǒmen是不是shìbúshì有yǒu10 年nián没méi见jiàn了le？
It’s been 10 years since we’ve seen each other, hasn’t it?

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì忘记wàngjì今天jīntiān是shì我wǒ生日shēngrì了le…
Did you forget that today is my birthday?

2 个ge月yuè没méi见jiàn， 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì瘦shòu了le？
It’s been 2 months since we last met. You have lost weight, right?

FYI
In Western culture, mentioning someone’s appearance may be considered quite impolite. However, in Taiwan and China, it is very common. Although some young people nowadays may not like being commented on their appearance, overall, discussing someone’s physical changes to show concern is still a cultural norm here. It’s actually just a way of greeting. So when someone asks you, “Have you gained weight recently?” or “You look tired,” or “Your face looks round,” you don’t need to take it too seriously. Simply respond with a brief acknowledgment like, “Oh yeah, it seems like it,” and that would be enough.

Mordern Usage

是不是 shìbúshì

In texts and among the younger generation, people often reply with 是不是 shì bú shì to express agreement of other people’s view, similar to saying “I know, right?”

A：你nǐ衣服yīfu很hěn好看hǎokàn， 在zài哪里nǎlǐ买mǎi的de？
Your clothe looks really nice. Where did you buy it?

B：是不是shìbúshì！ 我wǒ在zài夜市yèshì买mǎi的de一件yíjiàn才cái190
I know, right? I bought this one at the night market for only 190.

A：中文zhōngwén也yě太tài难学nánxué了le吧ba！
Learning Chinese is sooo difficult!

B：是不是shìbúshì！ 我wǒ早zǎo就jiù跟gēn你nǐ说shuō过guò了le！
I know, right? I’ve been telling you that for a long time!

A：狗gǒu好hǎo可爱kěài喔ō
Dogs are so adorable.

B：是不是shìbúshì！ 你nǐ要yào不要búyào也yě养yǎng一只yìzhǐ？
I know, right? Do you want to get one too?

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ He’s drunk, isn’t he?

他tā是不是shìbúshì喝hē醉zuì了le？

✔️ Shouldn’t you apologize to me first?

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì应该yīnggāi先xiān跟gēn我wǒ道歉dàoqiàn？

✔️ Elder brother’s been busy lately, hasn’t he?

哥哥gēge最近zuìjìn很hěn忙máng是不是shìbúshì？

Do you like it? 🙂