不是…吗
HSK 2- Questions
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to ask again about something the speaker considers to be true, expressing surprise or confirmation.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This is a rhetorical question, used when you encounter a situation that contradicts what you expected. You are not genuinely asking, but rather reaffirming something or expressing surprise, and sometimes reproach.
A close translation would be "Isn't it...?", implying "I thought it was...!". It is stronger than an ordinary question and typically carries the speaker's emotions.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 你不是越南人吗？繁: 你不是越南人嗎？Nǐ bú shì Yuènánrén ma?
Aren't you Vietnamese?
- 我们不是明天见吗？繁: 我們不是明天見嗎？Wǒmen bú shì míngtiān jiàn ma?
Aren't we supposed to see each other tomorrow?
- 他不是说今天来吗？繁: 他不是說今天來嗎？Tā bú shì shuō jīntiān lái ma?
Didn't he say he was coming today?
- 我不是告诉你了吗？繁: 我不是告訴你了嗎？Wǒ bú shì gàosu nǐ le ma?
Didn't I already tell you?
- 这不是你的手机吗？繁: 這不是你的手機嗎？Zhè bú shì nǐ de shǒujī ma?
Isn't this your phone?
Common mistakes
- Wrong:你不是学生吗？(Dùng khi thật sự không biết)Correct:你是不是学生？
不是…吗 is a rhetorical question expressing surprise; to ask a genuine question, use 是不是 or a standard 吗 question.
- Wrong:他不是老师吗？(Khi nghĩ rằng anh ta không phải là giáo viên)Correct:他不是老师。
不是…吗 implies you believe "he IS a teacher." To say he is not, use a standard negative affirmative sentence instead.