HSK 1 · Yes & no

是不是

shì bu shì

is it or not

Stroke order of 是不是

3 characters, 22 strokes in total. Watch the animation, then try writing it yourself.

是 · 9 strokes 不 · 4 strokes 是 · 9 strokes

Memory trick

是 has the sun 日 straight over 正 correct; 不 negates; so is it or isn't it.

Parts: 是 be + 不 not + 是 be

The characters in 是不是

是 shì — to be (am / is / are) (9 strokes)
不 bù — not; no (4 strokes)
是 shì — to be (am / is / are) (9 strokes)

Example sentence

你是不是累了？

Are you tired?

Words with 是

是to be (am / is / are)还是or; still; had better 老是always (complaining)但是but 可是but 正是exactly; precisely 总是always 要是if 就是exactly; just 只是only; merely; but 有的是to have plenty of

Words with 不

不客气you're welcome 对不起sorry 不not; no 不大not very; not often 不用no need 不对incorrect 不久soon; not long after 不一会儿in a short while 不少quite a lot 不够not enough 不满dissatisfied 不好意思sorry; embarrassed 不一定not necessarily 差不多almost; about the same 不要don't 不行no way; won't do 不过but; however 不但not only

Words with 是

是to be (am / is / are)还是or; still; had better 老是always (complaining)但是but 可是but 正是exactly; precisely 总是always 要是if 就是exactly; just 只是only; merely; but 有的是to have plenty of

More words: Yes & no

不not; no 没not (have); did not 没有not have; there is not; did not 别don't 不大not very; not often 不用no need 对right; correct; towards 不对incorrect 错wrong; mistake

Learn to write it by hand

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