Dictionary › 是否

是否

shì fǒu

Old HSK 5 HSK 3.0 level 4 2-character word

是否 (shì fǒu) means "whether (or not)". It is an HSK 3.0 level 4 word, and was HSK 5 in the old six-level list.

What 是否 means

1. whether (or not)
2. if
3. is or isn't

The characters in 是否

• 是shìto be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true…
• 否fǒuto negate; to deny; not

Example sentences

• 他问我是否很忙？
  He asked me if I was busy.
• 你是否同意手术？
  Do you give your consent to the operation?
• 我怀疑他是否会来。
  I am doubtful whether he will come.
• 我不在乎是否下雪。
  I don't care if it snows.
• 我不知道他是否爱我。
  I wonder if he loves me.
• 我不知道她是否会来。
  I don't know whether she will come.

Where 是否 is taught

In the GraphChinese course it is part of Clarity & Certainty (HSK 5), each one a topic in the dependency graph of HSK 1–6 that opens only once its prerequisites are solid.

Go deeper

• Every HSK 5 word, with the rest of its level.
• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read shì fǒu correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.