吗 vs 是不是: what is the difference?
吗 asks a neutral question. 是不是 shows you already think the answer is yes, and asks them to confirm: 你是不是病了？
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 吗 | ma | Turns a statement into a neutral yes-or-no question, with no guess about the answer. | Statement + 吗？ |
| 是不是 | shì bú shì | Checks a guess you already half believe. | 是不是 + statement |
吗 (ma)
Turns a statement into a neutral yes-or-no question, with no guess about the answer.
Structure: Statement + 吗？
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你喜欢吃辣的吗？ | Nǐ xǐ huan chī là de ma? | Do you like spicy food? |
| 这附近有银行吗？ | Zhè fù jìn yǒu yín háng ma? | Is there a bank near here? |
| 他会开车吗？ | Tā huì kāi chē ma? | Can he drive? |
Not: 你是不是喜欢吃辣的吗？ 是不是 and 吗 do not stack. Use one: 你是不是喜欢吃辣的？ or 你喜欢吃辣的吗？
是不是 (shì bú shì)
Checks a guess you already half believe.
Structure: 是不是 + statement
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你是不是不舒服？ | Nǐ shì bú shì bù shū fu? | Are you feeling unwell? |
| 他是不是还没到？ | Tā shì bú shì hái méi dào? | Has he not arrived yet? |
| 你是不是喜欢这个颜色？ | Nǐ shì bú shì xǐ huan zhè gè yán sè? | Do you like this colour? |
Not: 你是不是不舒服吗？ 是不是 already asks, so 吗 is not added.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Question Methods: 好吗、是不是、吧、呢 ellipsis (HSK 2) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 次 vs 遍 · 刚 vs 刚才 · 更 vs 还 · 还 vs 已经 · 看见 vs 看到 · 可以 vs 能 · 吗 vs 吧 · 如果 vs 只要 · 上去 vs 上来 · 往 vs 向 · 有点儿 vs 一点儿 · 又 vs 再 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 吗 and 是不是?
吗 asks a neutral question. 是不是 shows you already think the answer is yes, and asks them to confirm: 你是不是病了？
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