可
kě
Can, may; but
可不 (kě bù) — enthusiastic agreement
可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply
HSK 7–93.0
Pattern diagram
可不可不是嘛
Rule structure
可不 (kě bu) and 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) are colloquial agreement replies meaning "exactly" or "you bet." They stand alone as a response and confirm what the other person said. They are not an ordinary 是 (shì) question or the general question 是不是 (shì bu shì).
Rule structure
可不 (kě bu) and 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) are colloquial agreement replies meaning "exactly" or "you bet." They stand alone as a response and confirm what the other person said. They are not an ordinary 是 (shì) question or the general question 是不是 (shì bu shì).
Examples
甲：今天真冷。乙：可不是嘛！
Jiǎ: Jīntiān zhēn lěng. Yǐ: Kě bú shì ma!
A: It's really cold today. B: You bet!
Examples
甲：今天真冷。乙：可不是嘛！
Jiǎ: Jīntiān zhēn lěng. Yǐ: Kě bú shì ma!
A: It's really cold today. B: You bet!
Try this rule
Two short exercises: see how the rule works in a dialogue and in a sentence. No sign-up needed.
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “enthusiastic agreement” in Chinese with 可不?
Use the structure: 可不 (kě bu) / 可不是嘛 (kě bú shì ma) — a standalone confirming reply. For example: 甲：今天真冷。乙：可不是嘛！ — “A: It's really cold today. B: You bet!”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
甲：今天真冷。乙：可不是嘛！ — “A: It's really cold today. B: You bet!”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 3.0 Levels 7–9 grammar rules
动不动 就 — at the slightest thing, just
Subj. + 动不动 (dòngbudòng) 就 (jiù) + Verb
仅次于 — second only to
Subj. + 仅次于 (jǐn cì yú) + X
个 — casual small action
Verb + 个 (ge) + Noun
除外 — except for, excluding
Noun + 除外 (chúwài)
不亚于 — no worse than
Subject + 不亚于 (bú yà yú) + Noun
说到哪儿去了 — polite reply to praise
说到哪儿去了 (shuō dào nǎr qù le) — a standalone polite reply
非 — neither A nor B
非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. A + 非 (fēi) + Noun/Adj. B
爱 — indifference “whether… or not”
爱 (ài) + Verb + 不 (bù) + the same Verb