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是非 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
是非shìfēiright and wrongHSK 7, v, rank #6492, Hard
是非shìfēiquarrelHSK 7, v, rank #6492, Hard
shìfēi(shi4fei1) T4
  1. 1right and wrong
  2. 2quarrel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
是非shìfēi(shi4fei1)

是非 (shì fēi) refers to the concept of distinguishing right from wrong, often associated with moral judgments. It can also imply a quarrel or dispute that arises from differing opinions or misunderstandings about what is right or wrong. This term is commonly used in discussions about ethics and conflicts.

Frequency#6492DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of 是非 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where morality and social harmony are highly valued. Disputes are often seen as a disruption to societal balance, and resolving them amicably is preferred.

Memory Tip

Picture a courtroom where the judge (是) is trying to decide what is right (非). The '是' looks like a person standing tall, proclaiming the truth, while '非' resembles a person hiding, denying the truth. Together, they symbolize the struggle to discern truth from falsehood.

Meanings of 是非

shìfēi(shi4fei1)
1right and wrong
2quarrel
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 是非

是非Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6492Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 是非

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AI Study Notes for 是非

Memory Mnemonic

Picture a courtroom where the judge (是) is trying to decide what is right (非). The '是' looks like a person standing tall, proclaiming the truth, while '非' resembles a person hiding, denying the truth. Together, they symbolize the struggle to discern truth from falsehood.

Usage Notes

是非 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, but be careful with tone; incorrect use of tones can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include '是非对错' (the rights and wrongs) and '是非之地' (a place of disputes). Avoid using it in overly casual conversations.

HSK Study Tips

At HSK Level 6, students should focus on expanding their vocabulary related to ethics and conflicts. Understanding is crucial for engaging in high-level discussions. 是非 connects well with other terms related to morality and judgment, enhancing comprehension in complex dialogues.

Cultural Note

The concept of 是非 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where morality and social harmony are highly valued. Disputes are often seen as a disruption to societal balance, and resolving them amicably is preferred.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 是非 with similar terms like 对错 (duì cuò), which means right and wrong but lacks the nuance of dispute. For example, saying '他们有很多对错' (They have many rights and wrongs) should be corrected to '他们有很多是非' (They have many disputes).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 是非

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Component Characters

是shìis
HSK 19 strokes日
View full entry
非fēito not be
HSK 78 strokes非
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Write 是非

是
非

Practice writing 是非 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 是非

是非 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 2 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 lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

那个公园虽然不大，但____常漂亮。

Although that park is not big, it is very beautiful.

Example Sentences for 是非 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
除非是直接被击中，否则这个地下掩体是非常安全的。

chú fēi shì zhí jiē bèi jī zhōng， ， fǒu zé zhè gè dì xià yǎn tǐ shì fēi cháng ān quán。

The dug-outs were secure from everything but a direct hit.
2
雇主以种族或国籍为由歧视员工是非法的。

gù zhǔ yǐ zhǒng zú huò guó jí wéi yóu qí shì yuán gōng shì fēi fǎ de。

Discrimination by employers on the grounds of race and nationality was illegal.
3
无标志的预约型出租车沿街拉客是非法的。

wú biāo zhì de yù yuē xíng chū zū chē yán jiē lā kè shì fēi fǎ de。

Minicabs are prohibited by law from touting passers-by for business.
4
公民抗命，不管是暴力还是非暴力的，都是故意犯法。

gōng mín kàng mìng， ， bù guǎn shì bào lì huán shì fēi bào lì， de ， dū shì gù yì。

Civil disobedience, violent or non-violent, is intentional law breaking.
5
其2.7升的车型确实是非常棒的赛车。

qí2.7 2.7 shēng de chē xíng què shí shì fēi cháng bàng de sài。

In that 7-litre form it really was a terrific racing car.
6
战争颠倒是非：杀戮与残忍成了美德。

zhàn zhēng diān dǎo shì fēi： ： shā lù yǔ cán rěn chéng le měi。

War turns morality inside out: killing and cruelty are virtues.
7
今天迎接我们的将是非常忙碌的一天。

jīn tiān yíng jiē wǒ mén de jiāng shì fēi cháng máng lù de yī tiān。

We have a very busy day ahead of us today.
8
从很多方面来说，这所学校在当时是非常先进的。

cóng hěn duō fāng miàn lái shuō， ， zhè suǒ xué xiào zài dāng shí shì fēi cháng xiān jìn。

In many ways, it was a very modern school for its time.
9
他对孩子们总是非常好，很有耐心。

tā duì hái zǐ mén zǒng shì fēi cháng hǎo， ， hěn yǒu nài。

He was endlessly kind and patient with children.
10
他们的性格已经完全形成，两人都是非常持重的孩子。

tā mén de xìng gé yǐ jīng wán quán xíng chéng， ， liǎng rén dū shì fēi cháng chí zhòng de hái。

Their characters are fully formed and they are both very stable children.

Cultural Notes for 是非

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of 是非 is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, where morality and social harmony are highly valued. Disputes are often seen as a disruption to societal balance, and resolving them amicably is preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions about 是非

You can say, '在这件事情上，我们需要分清是非' (In this matter, we need to distinguish right from wrong).