是不是

Character by character

• 是shì9 strokesHSK 1indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that
• 不bù4 strokesHSK 1no, not; un-; negative prefix
• 是shì9 strokesHSK 1indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that

Each character links to its stroke order page with a tracing and a writing exercise.

Words with the same characters

These words share at least one character with 是不是. Reading them together is how the character starts to stick — the same characters in a different context.

• 是shìHSK 1

  to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)

• 不bùHSK 1

  no; not so; (bound form) not; un-

• 就是jiù shìHSK 3

  exactly; precisely; only; simply; just; (used correlatively with 也) even; even if

• 但是dàn shìHSK 2

  but; however

• 还是hái shiHSK 1

  still (as before); had better; unexpectedly; or

• 不过bù guòHSK 2

  only; merely; no more than; but; however; anyway (to get back to a previous topic); cannot be more (after adjectival)

• 不要bù yàoHSK 2

  don't!; must not

• 只是zhǐ shìHSK 3

  merely; only; just; nothing but; simply; but; however

• 不错bù cuòHSK 2

  correct; right; not bad; pretty good

• 可是kě shìHSK 2

  but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed

• 不同bù tóngHSK 2

  different; distinct; not the same; not alike

• 是否shì fǒuHSK 4

  whether (or not); if; is or isn't

• 总是zǒng shìHSK 3

  always

• 不管bù guǎnHSK 4

  not to be concerned; regardless of; no matter

• 不再bù zàiHSK 6

  no more; no longer

• 不用bù yòngHSK 1

  need not

• 而是ér shìHSK 4

  rather

• 不少bù shǎoHSK 2

  many; a lot; not few

• 于是yú shìHSK 4

  thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence

• 正是zhèng shìHSK 2

  is precisely

• 不断bù duànHSK 3

  unceasing; uninterrupted; continuous; constant

• 要是yào shiHSK 3

  (coll.) if

• 不够bù gòuHSK 2

  not enough; insufficient; inadequate

• 不行bù xíngHSK 2

  won't do; be out of the question; be no good; not work; not be capable