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岂不…?

HSK 6
  • Questions

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject岂不Verb/Adjective(Object)?

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

Used for rhetorical questions, carrying a strong affirmative meaning, equivalent to "isn't it...?" or "aren't you...?".

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

岂不 (qǐ bù) is a rhetorical question structure — the speaker is not genuinely seeking an answer but rather emphasizing something self-evident. It carries a more formal and literary tone compared to 难道 or 不是...吗?.

When you use 岂不, you are implicitly asserting that what you say is true and inviting the listener to agree. A rough translation would be "isn't it…?", "wouldn't that be…?", or "how could it not be…?"

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 这样做岂不两全其美？
    繁: 這樣做豈不兩全其美？Zhèyàng zuò qǐ bù liǎng quán qí měi?

    Wouldn't doing it this way be the best of both worlds?

  2. 早点告诉他，岂不更好？
    繁: 早點告訴他，豈不更好？Zǎodiǎn gàosu tā, qǐ bù gèng hǎo?

    Telling him a bit earlier would be even better, wouldn't it?

  3. 如果现在放弃，努力岂不白费了？
    繁: 如果現在放棄，努力豈不白費了？Rúguǒ xiànzài fàngqì, nǔlì qǐ bù báifèi le?

    If we give up now, wouldn't all our efforts be wasted?

  4. 他帮你这么多，你岂不应该谢他？
    繁: 他幫你這麼多，你豈不應該謝他？Tā bāng nǐ zhème duō, nǐ qǐ bù yīnggāi xiè tā?

    He has helped you so much, shouldn't you thank him?

  5. 为这点小事生气，岂不太傻了？
    繁: 為這點小事生氣，豈不太傻了？Wèi zhè diǎn xiǎoshì shēngqì, qǐ bù tài shǎ le?

    Isn't it rather foolish to get angry over such a trivial matter?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:你岂不吃饭？
    Correct:你怎么不吃饭？

    岂不 is used as a rhetorical question to emphasize a point, not for ordinary simple questions in everyday conversation.