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HSK 6Special Structures

岂不是(qǐbúshì)

Wouldn't That Be / Isn't That

Structure Pattern

岂不是+Obvious Conclusion+(吗)

Explanation

岂不是 (qǐbúshì) is a literary rhetorical question meaning "wouldn't that be...?" or "isn't that...?" It points out an obvious (usually absurd or undesirable) conclusion. 岂 is a classical Chinese rhetorical marker never used alone in modern speech.

Example Sentences

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1
这样做岂不是浪费时间吗？

Zhèyàng zuò qǐbúshì làngfèi shíjiān ma?

Wouldn't doing it this way be a waste of time?

2
不学习岂不是更难毕业？

Bù xuéxí qǐbúshì gèng nán bìyè?

Not studying — wouldn't that make graduating even harder?

3
你走了，我们岂不是没人帮忙了？

Nǐ zǒu le, wǒmen qǐbúshì méi rén bāngmáng le?

If you leave, wouldn't we have nobody to help?

Common Mistakes

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Common Mistake

他岂不是也是演员吗？

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Correct Usage

他不是也是演员吗？

info

Foreigners often overuse 岂不是 for simple, neutral rhetorical questions or confirmations. 岂不是 is a more literary and emphatic rhetorical question, typically used to highlight an obvious (often absurd or undesirable) conclusion, carrying a stronger tone of 'how could you not see this?' or 'this is clearly the case, and it's problematic/absurd' than a simple 不是...吗？

structurerhetoricalliteraryclassical

Related Grammar Points

何必HSK 6

Why Bother / Why Must

hébì

何必 (hébì) is a rhetorical question meaning "why bother?" or "why must you?" It implies the action is unnecessary or not worth the trouble. More literary than 干吗 (gànmá). Often used to give advice or persuade someone not to do something.

Adverbs3 examples

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