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    Chinese Grammar

    Rhetorical questions with 不是么 (bùshìme)

    HSK 3
    Emphasis
    Questions

    Structure

    Statement + 不是么？

    Explanation

    The expression 不是么 is placed at the end of a statement to form a rhetorical question, similar to "isn't that so?" in English. It signals that the speaker considers the preceding statement to be obviously true. This is a conversational tag that invites agreement.

    Examples

    • 大家都喜欢他，不是么？

      dàjiā dōu xǐhuān tā, bú shì me?

      Everyone likes him, don't they?

    • 这件事本来就不容易，不是么？

      zhè jiàn shì běnlái jiù bù róngyì, bú shì me?

      This matter was never easy to begin with, wasn't it?

    • 你心里也是这么想的，不是么？

      nǐ xīnlǐ yě shì zhème xiǎng de, bú shì me?

      You think so too in your heart, don't you?

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