Tag questions with "bù" "不"
In the same way you can tag questions with 吗 (ma), tag questions can also be formed using 不 (bù). This is done by putting an affirmative-negative question at the end of a sentence.
Contents
Structure
Verb + 不 + Verb
This can then be attached to the end of a sentence to form a tag question. Tag questions seek confirmation or acceptance of what has been said. In English, "right?" and "OK?" are often used as tag questions.
Examples
- 你 会 说 中文 , 对 不 对 ?
Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén, duì bù duì ?
You speak Chinese, right?
- 他 是 你 的 老板 , 对 不 对 ?
Tā shì nǐ de lǎobǎn, duì bù duì ?
He's your boss, right?
- 我们 是 好 朋友 , 对 不 对 ?
Wǒmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì bù duì ?
We are good friends, right?
- 你 昨天 没 回家, 对 不 对 ?
Nǐ zuótiān méi huíiā, duì bù duì ?
You didn't come back home yesterday, right?
- 你 有 新 女朋友 了 , 是 不 是 ?
Nǐ yǒu xīn nǚpéngyou le, shì bù shì ?
You have a new girlfriend, right?
- 九 点 开 会 , 是 不 是 ?
Jǐu diǎn kāi huì, shì bù shì ?
We are going to hold a meeting at 9, right?
- 你 姓 王 , 是 不 是 ?
Nǐ xìng Wáng, shì bù shì ?
Your last name is Wang, is it not?
- 我们 回家 吧 , 好 不 好 ?
Wǒmen huǐjiā ba, hǎo bù hǎo ?
Let's go home, OK?
- 周末 去 看 电影, 好 不 好 ?
Zhōumò qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo bù hǎo ?
Let's go to a movie this weekend, OK?
- 你们 明天 来, 好 不 好 ?
Nǐmen míngtiān lái, hǎo bù hǎo ?
You come here tomorrow, OK?
See also
Sources and Further Reading
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (1st ed) (pp. 85-86)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (p. 218)
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 152-7)