不是 (bùshì) means 'is not' or 'are not' in English. It is commonly used to negate a statement or identify something as false, functioning as a crucial element in Chinese sentence structure. This word is essential for distinguishing the negative form of verbs and adjectives.
HSK 1, 16 strokes, Hard
bùshì(bu2shi4) T4
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May 27, 2026
不是bùshì(bu2shi4)
不是 (bùshì) means 'is not' or 'are not' in English. It is commonly used to negate a statement or identify something as false, functioning as a crucial element in Chinese sentence structure. This word is essential for distinguishing the negative form of verbs and adjectives.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, stating a negation politely is important, and 不是 (bùshì) can often be used in a softening context to avoid direct confrontation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person pointing at a cat and saying 'This is not a cat!' The '不' (bù) looks like a person standing with arms crossed, indicating refusal, while '是' (shì) resembles a checkmark, symbolizing affirmation. Together, they create the image of someone denying something.
About 不是
不是Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 不是
Podcast: 不是
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AI Study Notes for 不是
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person pointing at a cat and saying 'This is not a cat!' The '不' (bù) looks like a person standing with arms crossed, indicating refusal, while '是' (shì) resembles a checkmark, symbolizing affirmation. Together, they create the image of someone denying something.
Usage Notes
Students often confuse 是 (shì) and 不是 (bùshì), forgetting that the latter specifically negates. This phrase is informal and commonly used in daily conversation. Pay attention to the tones, as mispronouncing them can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 1, focus on using 不是 (bùshì) to form simple negative sentences. Connect it with vocabulary like '我' (wǒ - I) and '你' (nǐ - you) to practice basic introductions and statements.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, stating a negation politely is important, and 不是 (bùshì) can often be used in a softening context to avoid direct confrontation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the correct tone for 不 (bù), mistakenly pronouncing it as 'bu' in a flat tone. For example, saying '我 bu 是学生' instead of '我不是学生' (Wǒ bùshì xuéshēng - I am not a student) alters the meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 不是
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