是不是
isn’t it? / is it that…?
Structure
主语 + 是不是 + 动词／形容词 …？ · …，是不是？
What it means
是不是 asks “isn’t it? / is it that …?” when you already have a guess and want it confirmed: 你是不是病了？ “You’re ill, aren’t you?”
How it is built
Subject + 是不是 + the part you check: 他是不是去医院了？ (He’s gone to hospital, hasn’t he?). Or at the end after a comma: 中医很有意思，是不是？
When to use it
吗 (h1-1) and 去不去 (h1-16) ask a plain yes-or-no question. 是不是 shows you expect “yes”. Put it right before the part you are checking.
Watch out
是不是 is already a question, so never add 吗. ✗ 你是不是病了吗？ ✓ 你是不是病了？
Examples
你是不是不舒服？
You’re not feeling well, are you?
他是不是去医院了？
He’s gone to the hospital, hasn’t he?
中医很有意思，是不是？
Chinese medicine is interesting, isn’t it?
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 9: 看中医 (Traditional medicine)
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 →