Dictionary › 是不是

是不是

shì bu shì

3-character word

What 是不是 means

1. is or is not (used to form yes-no questions)

How 是不是 is used in grammar

是不是 is a grammar word. Each link goes to its own section: what it does in that pattern, the structure, three example sentences with pinyin, and the mistake to avoid.

• Affirmative-Negative Questions (HSK 1)
• Question Methods: 好吗、是不是、吧、呢 ellipsis (HSK 2)

The characters in 是不是

• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true…
• 不bùno; not so; (bound form) not; un-
• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true…

Example sentences

• 是不是吓人？
  Shìbùshì xià rén?
  Scary, isn't it?

Go deeper

• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read shì bu shì correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.