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

• 你 会 说 中文 ， 对 不 对 ？ Nǐ huì shuō Zhōngwén, duì bu duì? You speak Chinese, right?
• 他 是 你 的 老板 ， 对 不 对 ？ Tā shì nǐ de lǎobǎn, duì bu duì? He's your boss, right?
• 我们 是 好 朋友 ， 对 不 对 ？ Wǒmen shì hǎo péngyou, duì bu duì? We are good friends, right?
• 你 昨天 没 回家， 对 不 对 ？ Nǐ zuótiān méi huíjiā, duì bu 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 bu shì? You have a new girlfriend, right?
• 九 点 开会 ， 是 不 是 ？ Jiǔ diǎn kāihuì, shì bu shì? We are going to hold a meeting at 9, right?
• 你 姓 王 ， 是 不 是 ？ Nǐ xìng Wáng, shì bu shì? Your last name is Wang, is it not?
• 我们 回家 吧 ， 好 不 好 ？ Wǒmen huíjiā ba, hǎo bu hǎo? Let's go home, OK?
• 周末 去 看 电影， 好 不 好 ？ Zhōumò qù kàn diànyǐng, hǎo bu hǎo? Let's go to a movie this weekend, OK?
• 你们 明天 来， 好 不 好 ？ Nǐmen míngtiān lái, hǎo bu hǎo? You come here tomorrow, OK?

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