Chinese

Noun

不是

1. fault; mistake; wrongdoing

   都是我的不是。  ―  Dōu shì wǒ de bùshì.  ―  It's all my fault.

   快去賠個不是。 / 快去赔个不是。  ―  Kuài qù péi ge bùshì.  ―  Quickly go and apologise.

Synonyms

• (fault; mistake; wrongdoing): 過錯／过错 (guòcuò), 過失／过失 (guòshī)

Derived terms

Verb

不是

1. to not be

   這不是我的書。 / 这不是我的书。  ―  Zhè bùshì wǒ de shū.  ―  This is not my book.

   這不是我的書嗎？ / 这不是我的书吗？  ―  Zhè bùshì wǒ de shū ma?  ―  This is not my book? (e.g. when you are told that the book is not yours.)

   不是我不明白，我只是不想說。 [MSC, trad.]

   不是我不明白，我只是不想说。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bùshì wǒ bù míngbái, wǒ zhǐshì bù xiǎng shuō. [Pinyin]

   It's not that I don't know; it's just that I don't want to say it.

2. Used in interrogative sentences, to express a certain emotion. Equivalent to “... not ... ?”

   我不是說了別叫我弟弟嗎？ [MSC, trad.]

   我不是说了别叫我弟弟吗？ [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ bùshì shuō le bié jiào wǒ dìdi ma? [Pinyin]

   Didn't I already tell you not to call me "little bro"?

   看，那不是姚明嗎？ / 看，那不是姚明吗？  ―  Kàn, nà bùshì Yáo Míng ma?  ―  Look! Isn't that Yao Ming?

   這不是我的書嗎？ / 这不是我的书吗？  ―  Zhè bùshì wǒ de shū ma?  ―  Isn't this my book? (e.g. when you find other person holding your book)

Usage notes

In sense 2, 不是 is usually weakened, pronounced with neutral tone, while in sense 1, 不是 is stressed.

See also

• 是不是 (shìbushì)

Synonyms