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是否 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
是否shìfǒuwhether (or not)HSK 4, v, rank #521, Medium
是否shìfǒuifHSK 4, v, rank #521, Medium
是否shìfǒuis or isn'tHSK 4, v, rank #521, Medium
shìfǒu(shi4fou3) T4
  1. 1whether (or not)
  2. 2if
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March 24, 2026
是否shìfǒu(shi4fou3)

Whether (是否) is used to introduce a condition or to indicate a choice between two alternatives. It is often used in questions to ascertain the existence or truth of something, similar to 'if' or 'whether or not' in English.

Frequency#521DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'whether' often reflects the importance of making choices that consider harmony and relationships, especially in business decisions where consensus is valued.

Memory Tip

Imagine a question mark shaped like a road fork, symbolizing a choice: 'to go this way or that way (whether)'. The character 事 (shi4) resembles a person standing at the fork, pondering their options, while 否 (fou3) hints at a 'no' sign, reinforcing the concept of uncertainty.

Meanings of 是否

shìfǒu(shi4fou3)
1whether (or not)
2if
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 是否

是否Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#521Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 是否

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Podcast: 是否

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AI Study Notes for 是否

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a question mark shaped like a road fork, symbolizing a choice: 'to go this way or that way (whether)'. The character 事 (shi4) resembles a person standing at the fork, pondering their options, while 否 (fou3) hints at a 'no' sign, reinforcing the concept of uncertainty.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 是否 with other conditional phrases like 如果 (rúguǒ, if). It's typically used in more formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation unless necessary. A common collocation is '是否能够' (whether or not it can).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 4 word, 是否 connects well with other conditional phrases. Focus on how it forms questions and contrasts with affirmative statements, which will enhance your conversational skills at this level.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'whether' often reflects the importance of making choices that consider harmony and relationships, especially in business decisions where consensus is valued.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 是否 in affirmative statements, such as saying '我是否去' (I whether go) instead of '我去吗?' (Am I going?). Ensure that it is used correctly in context to form questions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 是否

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Component Characters

是shìis
HSK 19 strokes日
View full entry
否fǒuto negate
7 strokes口
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是
否

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Grammar Patterns of 是否

是否 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons2
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

不管明天____下雨，我都要去看他。

Regardless of whether it rains tomorrow, I will go see him.

Example Sentences for 是否 (10)

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1
这样的地产是否可获得大笔收益还要视具体情形而定。

zhè yàng de dì chǎn shì fǒu kě huò dé dà bǐ shōu yì huán yào shì jù tǐ qíng xíng ér dìng。

Whether such properties are a good deal will depend on individual situations.
2
埋头工作的时候，你是否忽视了自己的婚姻？

mái tóu gōng zuò de shí hòu， ， nǐ shì fǒu hū shì le zì jǐ de hūn？

While slogging at work, have you neglected your marriage?
3
你是否付出艰苦努力以取得成功，而不是只在那里做白日梦？

nǐ shì fǒu fù chū jiān kǔ nǔ lì yǐ qǔ dé chéng gōng， ， ér bù shì zhī zài nà lǐ zuò bái rì？

Do you work hard for success rather than daydream about it?
4
关键问题是4名被告是否存在欺诈行为。

guān jiàn wèn tí shì4 4 míng bèi gào shì fǒu cún zài qī zhà háng。

The key issue was whether the four defendants acted dishonestly.
5
这是否是原本良好的增长曲线中暂时的偏离？

zhè shì fǒu shì yuán běn liáng hǎo de zēng cháng qū xiàn zhōng zàn shí de piān lí？

Was it just a temporary blip on an otherwise healthy growth curve?
6
这是否属实仍未得出定论。

zhè shì fǒu shǔ shí réng wèi dé chū dìng lùn。

The jury is out on whether or not this is true.
7
科学家们越来越拿不准这一技术是否是正当合法的。

kē xué jiā mén yuè lái yuè ná bù zhǔn zhè yī jì shù shì fǒu shì zhèng dāng hé fǎ de。

Scientists are becoming increasingly unsure of the validity of this technique.
8
警察拒绝回答这对夫妇是否是一起自杀的。

jǐng chá jù jué huí dá zhè duì fū fù shì fǒu shì yī qǐ zì shā de。

Police refused to say if the couple died in a suicide pact.
9
但法律专家们不能肯定这一指控是否成立。

dàn fǎ lǜ zhuān jiā mén bù néng kěn dìng zhè yī zhǐ kòng shì fǒu chéng lì。

But legal experts are not sure if such a charge can stick.
10
我不知道你是否读过他写的书。

wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ shì fǒu dú guò tā xiě de shū。

I don't know if you ever read any of his books.

Cultural Notes for 是否

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 'whether' often reflects the importance of making choices that consider harmony and relationships, especially in business decisions where consensus is valued.

Frequently Asked Questions about 是否

It's better suited for formal contexts; in casual conversation, consider using simpler phrases.