是否
whether (or not): the written way to say 是不是 or 来不来
Structure
主语 + 是否 + 动词／形容词
What it means
“Whether (or not)”: the written way to say 是不是 or 来不来 inside a longer sentence.
How it is built
Subject + 是否 + verb／adjective: 医生还不知道他是否需要手术 (the doctor doesn’t know yet whether he needs an operation). It can also go before 能, 应该 and the like: 您是否能参加.
When to use it
Formal: notices, emails, the news, reports. In conversation say 是不是, 会不会 or 来不来: 请告诉我们您是否参加 in writing, 你来不来？ in speech.
Watch out
No 吗 and no repeated verb: ✗ 他是否来不来 ✓ 他是否来. Put 是否 after the subject, right before the verb.
Examples
医生还不知道他是否需要手术。
The doctor doesn’t know yet whether he needs an operation.
请在星期五以前告诉我们您是否参加。
Please let us know by Friday whether you’re coming.
老人是否幸福，跟子女是否常来看望有很大关系。
Whether older people are happy has a lot to do with whether their children visit often.
Learn this in HSK 4 · Lesson 17: 老了以后 (Growing old)
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.
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