How to form rhetorical questions in Chinese with 不是……吗？
不 (bù) 是 (shì)…… 吗 (ma)？
不是 (bù shì)……吗 (ma)？ — rhetorical questions
不 (bù) 是 (shì)…… 吗 (ma)？
HSK 2Question Forms不是 (bù shì)……吗 (ma)？ — rhetorical questions
Rule structure
The structure 不是 (bù shì)…吗 (ma) forms a rhetorical question with an expected affirmative answer. It is used to emphasize an obvious point, remind the listener of a fact, or gently express disagreement.
Rule structure
The structure 不是 (bù shì)…吗 (ma) forms a rhetorical question with an expected affirmative answer. It is used to emphasize an obvious point, remind the listener of a fact, or gently express disagreement.
Examples
不是很好吗？
Bù shì hěn hǎo ma?
Isn't it very good?
Examples
不是很好吗？
Bù shì hěn hǎo ma?
Isn't it very good?
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “rhetorical questions” in Chinese with 不是……吗？?
Use the structure: 不 (bù) 是 (shì)…… 吗 (ma)？. For example: 不是很好吗？ — “Isn't it very good?”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
不是很好吗？ — “Isn't it very good?”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 2.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 2 grammar rules
怎么 — asking why
怎么 (zěnme)⋯⋯？
是不是 — tag questions
⋯⋯是不是 (shì bu shì) / 对不对 (duì bu duì) / 好不好 (hǎo bu hǎo)?
不 — affirmative-negative question
Verb + 不 (bù) + Verb / Adj. + 不 (bù) + Adj.
吗 — tag questions
⋯⋯是 (shì)吗 (ma) / 对 (duì)吗 (ma) / 好 (hǎo)吗 (ma)?
最 — superlative “most”
最 (zuì) + Adj. (+ 了 (le))
到 — direction with “to go to”
到 (dào) + Place + 去 (qù)
虽然 — although… but…
虽然 (suīrán)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì) / 可是 (kěshì)⋯⋯
一下 — verbing briefly
Verb + 一下 (yíxià)