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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "whether or not" with 是否 (shìfǒu) as an adverb

    HSK 5
    Questions

    Structure

    Subject + 是否 + Verb Phrase

    Explanation

    是否 (shìfǒu) means "whether or not" or "is or isn't" and is used in formal contexts to pose a yes-or-no question indirectly. It is commonly found in written Chinese, official statements, and formal speech.

    Examples

    • 请确认是否需要预订房间。

      Qǐng quèrèn shìfǒu xūyào yùdìng fángjiān.

      Please confirm whether a room reservation is needed.

    • 我们正在调查此事是否属实。

      Wǒmen zhèngzài diàochá cǐ shì shìfǒu shǔshí.

      We are investigating whether this matter is true.

    • 他还没决定是否参加这次活动。

      Tā hái méi juédìng shìfǒu cānjiā zhè cì huódòng.

      He hasn't decided yet whether to participate in this event.

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