可不是嘛
you can say that again; exactly
Structure
——A：…… ！ ——B：可不是 （嘛） ！
What it means
A warm “you can say that again!” or “exactly!” that agrees with what someone has just said.
How it is built
A makes a remark; B replies 可不是 or 可不是嘛, often adding a sentence: ——今天真热啊！——可不是嘛！ (“It’s so hot today!” “You can say that again!”)
When to use it
Spoken Chinese only, and only as a reply to someone else. Warmer and stronger than 对 or 是啊. You often add a sentence of your own after it: 可不是嘛，我找了半年了.
Watch out
Although it contains 不是, it means “yes, exactly”, never “no”: it is really a question, “isn’t it so?”, that needs no answer. Don’t use it to agree with yourself.
Examples
——今天真热啊！——可不是嘛！
“It’s so hot today!” “You can say that again!”
——现在找工作真难。——可不是嘛，我找了半年了。
“Finding a job is so hard these days.” “Tell me about it: I’ve been looking for six months.”
——北京的地铁人太多了。——可不是！早上连站的地方都没有。
“There are far too many people on the Beijing metro.” “Too right! In the morning there isn’t even room to stand.”
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 24: 后悔 (Regrets)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →