shì bu shì: 是不是 - Is it...?, Right?, Isn't it?

• Keywords: shi bu shi, shibushi, 是不是, Chinese grammar, A-not-A questions, tag questions in Chinese, how to ask yes-no questions in Chinese, Chinese confirmation questions, 是不是 vs 吗, is it right in Chinese, yes-no questions.
• Summary: Learn how to use “是不是” (shì bu shì), one of the most common and versatile ways to ask yes-no questions in Mandarin Chinese. This page breaks down how “是不是” works as a confirmation question (like “right?” or “isn't it?”), how it differs from using “吗” (ma), and its essential role in everyday conversation. Master this fundamental piece of Chinese grammar to make your speech sound more natural and fluent.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shì bu shì
• Part of Speech: Question Phrase / Grammatical Structure
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A grammatical structure meaning “is it or is it not?” used to form a yes-no question, often to confirm a pre-existing assumption.
• In a Nutshell: “是不是” is the Swiss Army knife of Chinese questions. You can stick it into a sentence to turn a statement into a question. Think of it as the Chinese equivalent of adding “…right?” or “…isn't it?” to the end of a sentence. It works by presenting both the positive (“是” - is) and the negative (“不” - not) options, prompting the listener to confirm which one is true.

• 是 (shì): This character means “to be” (is, am, are, yes). It signifies affirmation or correctness.
• 不 (bù): The most common character for negation, meaning “not” or “no”.
• 是 (shì): The same character, “to be,” is repeated.

The combination “是-不-是” literally translates to “is-not-is?”. This structure forms what linguists call an “A-not-A question.” By presenting both the affirmative and negative possibilities, you are asking for confirmation about a statement you already suspect is true.

While “是不是” is a grammatical tool, its frequent use reflects a subtle aspect of Chinese communication culture: a preference for indirectness and consensus-building. Asking a direct question with `吗` (e.g., `你是美国人吗？` - “Are you American?”) is perfectly fine, but can sometimes feel a bit blunt or clinical, like filling out a form. Using `是不是` (e.g., `你是不是美国人？` - “You're American, right?”) softens the question. It implies the speaker has already made an observation and is simply looking for confirmation. This creates a smoother, more collaborative conversational flow. It's less like an interrogation and more like a shared discovery. Compared to the variety of English tag questions (“isn't it?”, “aren't you?”, “don't they?”), the single, versatile “是不是” is a powerful and efficient tool for achieving this conversational harmony.

“是不是” is incredibly common in all forms of modern Mandarin. Its placement in a sentence can slightly change its nuance.

• Before the Verb/Adjective: Used to ask for confirmation about the main action or state of the sentence. This is the most common structure.
  • `你是不是累了？` (Nǐ shì bu shì lèi le?) - Are you tired? (I suspect you are).
• At the Beginning or End of a Sentence: Functions like an English tag question (“…, right?”). This is very conversational.
  • `今天天气很好，是不是？` (Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo, shì bu shì?) - The weather is great today, isn't it?
• As a Rhetorical Question: Used to express frustration, disbelief, or to emphasize a point. The tone of voice is key here.
  • `你是不是傻？` (Nǐ shì bu shì shǎ?) - Are you stupid or something? (This is aggressive and not a genuine question).
• On Social Media: In casual texting, it's sometimes shortened to `是不 (shì bu)` or even the pinyin abbreviation `sbs`.

• Example 1:
  • 你是不是喜欢喝咖啡？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì xǐhuān hē kāfēi?
  • English: Do you like to drink coffee? (I have a feeling you do).
  • Analysis: A standard confirmation question. The speaker is guessing about the listener's preference and asking them to confirm.
• Example 2:
  • 我们明天去看电影，是不是？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen míngtiān qù kàn diànyǐng, shì bu shì?
  • English: We're going to the movies tomorrow, right?
  • Analysis: Used as a tag question at the end of the sentence to confirm a pre-arranged plan.
• Example 3:
  • 是不是只有我一个人觉得很冷？
  • Pinyin: Shì bu shì zhǐyǒu wǒ yí ge rén juéde hěn lěng?
  • English: Is it just me, or is it really cold?
  • Analysis: Placing “是不是” at the beginning frames the entire following statement as a question for confirmation.
• Example 4:
  • 你是不是又没做作业？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì yòu méi zuò zuòyè?
  • English: Did you forget to do your homework again?
  • Analysis: This has a slightly accusatory or parental tone. It's a question, but it's based on a strong suspicion from past behavior.
• Example 5:
  • 他没来，是不是因为堵车了？
  • Pinyin: Tā méi lái, shì bu shì yīnwèi dǔchē le?
  • English: He's not here. Is it because he's stuck in traffic?
  • Analysis: Here, “是不是” is used to propose a possible reason for a situation and ask for agreement or an alternative explanation.
• Example 6:
  • 这个项目这么重要，你是不是应该更认真一点？
  • Pinyin: Zhège xiàngmù zhème zhòngyào, nǐ shì bu shì yīnggāi gèng rènzhēn yìdiǎn?
  • English: This project is so important, shouldn't you be a little more serious about it?
  • Analysis: A classic example of “是不是” being used to soften a criticism or suggestion, making it sound more like a gentle reminder than a direct command.
• Example 7:
  • 你说得对，我是不是想得太简单了。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shuō de duì, wǒ shì bu shì xiǎng de tài jiǎndān le.
  • English: You're right, maybe I was thinking about it too simplistically.
  • Analysis: “是不是” can even be used in self-reflection, posing a question to oneself that you already know the answer to.
• Example 8:
  • 我想买这个，但是是不是太贵了？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhège, dànshì shì bu shì tài guì le?
  • English: I want to buy this, but is it too expensive?
  • Analysis: Used to express doubt and seek a second opinion.
• Example 9:
  • 你是不是觉得我穿这件衣服不好看？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ shì bu shì juéde wǒ chuān zhè jiàn yīfu bù hǎokàn?
  • English: Do you think I don't look good in these clothes? (Be honest).
  • Analysis: A question seeking an honest opinion, implying the speaker is already feeling insecure about the answer.
• Example 10:
  • 快看，那是不是王老师？
  • Pinyin: Kuài kàn, nà shì bu shì Wáng lǎoshī?
  • English: Look quickly, isn't that Teacher Wang?
  • Analysis: Used to express surprise and seek quick confirmation from someone else.

• “是不是” vs. “吗 (ma)”: The Biggest Pitfall.
  • `吗 (ma)` is a neutral question particle. It implies you have no prior assumption. `他是老师吗？` (Is he a teacher?)
  • `是不是 (shì bu shì)` implies you think he is a teacher and are just confirming. `他是不是老师？` (He's a teacher, right?)
  • Using `是不是` when you have no idea can sound a bit strange, and using `吗` when the answer seems obvious can sound a little robotic.
• Never Use “是不是” and “吗” Together.
  • Incorrect: `你是不是学生吗？` (Nǐ shì bu shì xuéshēng ma?)
  • This is grammatically redundant. It's like asking “Are you a student, right, huh?”. Both `是不是` and `吗` turn a sentence into a question, so you only need one.
  • Correct: `你是不是学生？` or `你是学生吗？`
• Can't Be Used With “不 (bù)” or “没 (méi)”.
  • The “不” is already built into “是不是”. You can't negate it further.
  • Incorrect: `你是不是不喜欢她？` (This sounds like “Are you not… not like her?”).
  • To ask a negative question, you put the `是不是` outside the negative statement: `你是不是不喜欢她？` (Nǐ shì bu shì bù xǐhuān tā?) - “Is it true that you don't like her?”.

• 吗 (ma) - The neutral yes-no question particle. The main alternative to the `是不是` structure.
• A-not-A question - The grammatical category for this type of question (e.g., V-not-V). `是不是` is just the most common example.
• 对不对 (duì bu duì) - A specific A-not-A question meaning “correct or not correct?”. Used to confirm facts.
• 好不好 (hǎo bu hǎo) - “Good or not good?”. Used to ask for agreement or make suggestions, like “…, okay?”.
• 行不行 (xíng bu xíng) - “Possible or not possible?”. Used to ask for permission or feasibility, like “…will that work?”.
• 可以不可以 (kěyǐ bu kěyǐ) - “Can or cannot?”. A common way to ask for permission.
• 难道 (nándào) - A stronger particle used for rhetorical questions to express surprise or disbelief, e.g., “Don't tell me you…”
• 是吗 (shì ma) - A response, not a question starter. It means “Really?” or “Is that so?” and expresses surprise or mild doubt upon hearing new information.