HSK 2
是不是……？
shìbùshì……？
Is it true that…?
Structure
Subject + 是不是 + Verb / Adjective / Phrase (+ ?)
How it works
The '是不是' (shì bù shì) structure is used to ask for confirmation about a fact or a suspicion. It functions like a tag question or the phrase 'Is it true that...?' and can be placed before the verb, before the adjective, or at the beginning/end of a sentence.
Examples
你是不是北京人？
Nǐ shì bù shì Běijīng rén?
Are you a Beijinger? (Is it true that you are from Beijing?)
是不是明天要考试？
Shì bù shì míngtiān yào kǎoshì?
Is it true that there is an exam tomorrow?
你现在是不是很累？
Nǐ xiànzài shì bù shì hěn lèi?
Are you very tired right now?
Common mistakes
Do not add the question particle '吗' at the end of the sentence when using '是不是', as the 'A-not-A' structure already makes it a question.
Tip
If you are quite sure about something but just want a quick confirmation, you can also place '是不是' at the very end of the sentence.
More HSK 2 grammar
See 是不是……？ in real Chinese
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