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可不是 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
可不是kěbúshithat's just the way it isHSK 7, unknown, Very Hard
可不是kěbúshiexactly!HSK 7, unknown, Very Hard
kěbúshi(ke3bu2shi5) T3
  1. 1that's just the way it is
  2. 2exactly!
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March 24, 2026
可不是()kěbúshi(ke3bu2shi5)

可不是 (kě bù shì) is an expression used to affirm a statement, similar to saying 'that's exactly right' or 'that's just how it is' in English. It conveys strong agreement or acknowledgment, often used in conversations to emphasize a point or validate someone's opinion.

Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing agreement or validation is important in maintaining harmony in conversations. Using phrases like 可不是 can help build rapport by showing that you are listening and valuing the other person's perspective.

Memory Tip

Think of 可 (kě) as 'can' or 'able', 不 (bù) as 'not', and 是 (shì) as 'is'. Imagine someone saying, 'It can’t not be true!' to reinforce that something is indeed the case. Visualize a person nodding vigorously in agreement, highlighting the affirmation aspect of the phrase.

Meanings of 可不是

kěbúshi(ke3bu2shi5)
1that's just the way it is
2exactly!
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About 可不是

可不是Simplified
Traditional
Strokes
Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 可不是

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Podcast: 可不是

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AI Study Notes for 可不是

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 可 (kě) as 'can' or 'able', 不 (bù) as 'not', and 是 (shì) as 'is'. Imagine someone saying, 'It can’t not be true!' to reinforce that something is indeed the case. Visualize a person nodding vigorously in agreement, highlighting the affirmation aspect of the phrase.

Usage Notes

This expression is often used in informal conversations, so it may not be appropriate in very formal contexts. A common mistake is to use it too seriously; it should convey a light-hearted agreement rather than a heavy affirmation. Be cautious with the tones; mispronouncing could lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

While not specifically listed in HSK levels, this phrase is useful for intermediate learners as it strengthens conversational skills. Students should focus on practicing it within dialogues to gain fluency in expressing agreement.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, expressing agreement or validation is important in maintaining harmony in conversations. Using phrases like 可不是 can help build rapport by showing that you are listening and valuing the other person's perspective.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 可不是 with 不是 (bù shì), which simply means 'is not'. For instance, saying 可不是 when disagreeing is incorrect; instead, use it only to affirm statements.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 可不是

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Component Characters

can
HSK 35 strokes
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(negative prefix)
HSK 14 strokes
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shìis
HSK 19 strokes
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Cultural Notes for 可不是

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, expressing agreement or validation is important in maintaining harmony in conversations. Using phrases like 可不是 can help build rapport by showing that you are listening and valuing the other person's perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions about 可不是

You can use 可不是 when you want to agree with someone emphatically or confirm that what they said is accurate.