Tag questions with "bu"

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.

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

• 我们 去 咖啡 店 ， 好 不 好 ？ Wǒmen qù kāfēi diàn, hǎo bù hǎo? Let's go to the cafe, OK?
• 我们 喝 茶 ， 好 不 好 ？ Wǒmen hē chá, hǎo bù hǎo? Let's have tea, OK?
• 回 家 ， 好 不 好 ？ Huí jiā, hǎo bù hǎo? We're going home, OK?
• 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 péngyǒu, duì bù duì? We are good friends, right?
• Apple 用 中文 说 是 “ 苹果 ” ， 对 不 对 ？ Apple yòng Zhōngwén shuō shì "píngguǒ," duì bù duì? "Apple" in Chinese is "Pingguo," right?
• 你 姓 王 ， 是 不 是 ？ Nǐ xìng Wáng, shì bù shì? Your last name is Wang, is it not?
• 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 会 说 中文 ， 是 不 是 ？ Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén, shì bù shì? You speak Chinese, 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?

See also

• Yes-no questions with "ma"
• Tag questions with "ma"
• Affirmative-negative questions

Sources and Further Reading

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (1st ed) (pp. 85-86)　→buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (p. 218) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 152-7) →buy