Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== duì bu duì: 对不对 - Right?, Isn't it?, Correct? ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** dui bu dui, 对不对, how to use dui bu dui, Chinese tag questions, is that right in Chinese, Chinese grammar A-not-A, 对不对 meaning, duibudui pronunciation, Chinese for beginners, conversational Chinese. * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese phrase **对不对 (duì bu duì)**, the simple and incredibly common way to say "right?" or "isn't it?". This guide explains the meaning of 对不对, its cultural context in conversation, and how to use it correctly with over 10 example sentences. Master this fundamental A-not-A tag question to make your spoken Chinese sound more natural and engaging. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** duì bu duì * **Part of Speech:** Phrase / Tag Question * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** A phrase added to the end of a statement to ask for confirmation, equivalent to the English "right?", "correct?", or "isn't it?". * **In a Nutshell:** **对不对 (duì bu duì)** is your go-to tool for turning any statement into a question seeking agreement. Instead of the complex rules for English tag questions ("It's nice, //isn't it?//"; "You went, //didn't you?//"), Chinese uses this simple, one-size-fits-all phrase. It's built on the "A-not-A" grammar pattern (Verb-not-Verb), literally asking "correct, not correct?". It's friendly, inclusive, and fundamental to everyday conversation. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **对 (duì):** This character means "correct," "right," or "to face/to answer." In this context, it simply means "correct." Think of it as giving the right answer. * **不 (bù):** This is one of the most fundamental characters in Chinese, meaning "no" or "not." * The combination **对不对 (duì bu duì)** literally translates to "correct, not correct?". This structure directly presents two opposite options to the listener, inviting them to confirm which one is true. It's a simple and logical way to ask, "Is the statement I just made correct?". ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== While **对不对 (duì bu duì)** is a simple grammatical tool, its frequent use reflects a subtle aspect of Chinese communication style: the preference for harmony and consensus. By adding **对不对** to a statement, a speaker softens their assertion and actively invites the listener's input. It transforms a potential declaration into a collaborative check-in. This is less direct and less potentially confrontational than asking a blunt question. It fosters a feeling of "we're on the same page," which is highly valued in Chinese social interactions. For an English speaker, the biggest contrast is its simplicity. Where English requires learning dozens of unique tag questions (`isn't he?`, `don't they?`, `will you?`), Chinese provides a simple, universal tool. This reflects a certain pragmatism in the language. Using **对不对** correctly and frequently is a key step in moving from "textbook" Chinese to natural, conversational fluency. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **对不对 (duì bu duì)** is ubiquitous in informal, spoken Mandarin. * **Confirming Facts:** It's used constantly to double-check information, from schedules to names to directions. * //"The meeting is at 3 PM, **对不对**?"// * **Seeking Agreement:** When sharing an opinion, adding **对不对** is a gentle way to see if the other person agrees with you. * //"This movie is really interesting, **对不对**?"// * **In the Classroom:** Teachers use it nonstop to engage students and check for comprehension. * //"To form this question, we add 'ma' at the end, **对不对**?"// * **Making Suggestions:** It can be used to propose a plan and check if others are on board. * //"We'll eat first, then go shopping, **对不对**?"// It is generally considered informal and is most appropriate for conversation. While you might hear it in a semi-formal presentation to engage the audience, you would typically not use it in formal academic writing. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 今天天气很好，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Jīntiān tiānqì hěn hǎo, **duì bu duì**? * English: The weather is great today, right? * Analysis: A simple, common way to make small talk and state an observation while seeking agreement. * **Example 2:** * 我们明天八点出发，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Wǒmen míngtiān bā diǎn chūfā, **duì bu duì**? * English: We're leaving at 8 AM tomorrow, correct? * Analysis: Perfect for confirming plans and schedules with friends or colleagues. * **Example 3:** * 学中文需要很多耐心，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Xué Zhōngwén xūyào hěn duō nàixīn, **duì bu duì**? * English: Studying Chinese requires a lot of patience, doesn't it? * Analysis: Used to state a widely accepted opinion and get the listener to affirm it. * **Example 4:** * 你是李老师的学生，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ shì Lǐ lǎoshī de xuéshēng, **duì bu duì**? * English: You're Teacher Li's student, right? * Analysis: A friendly way to confirm a fact about someone you've just met. * **Example 5:** * 这家餐厅的牛肉面最有名，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de niúròu miàn zuì yǒumíng, **duì bu duì**? * English: This restaurant's beef noodle soup is the most famous, right? * Analysis: Used when you're fairly certain of a fact but want to confirm it, perhaps before ordering. * **Example 6:** * 他说他今天会来，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Tā shuō tā jīntiān huì lái, **duì bu duì**? * English: He said he would come today, correct? * Analysis: Useful for verifying information you received from a third party. * **Example 7:** * 往前走，在第二个路口右转，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Wàng qián zǒu, zài dì-èr ge lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn, **duì bu duì**? * English: Go forward, then turn right at the second intersection, correct? * Analysis: Essential for confirming directions to avoid getting lost. * **Example 8:** * 你的意思是，我们应该取消会议，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Nǐ de yìsi shì, wǒmen yīnggāi qǔxiāo huìyì, **duì bu duì**? * English: So what you mean is, we should cancel the meeting, right? * Analysis: A great tool for paraphrasing and confirming you have understood someone's point correctly. * **Example 9:** * 这个手机比那个贵，但是质量更好，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Zhège shǒujī bǐ nàge guì, dànshì zhìliàng gèng hǎo, **duì bu duì**? * English: This phone is more expensive than that one, but the quality is better, right? * Analysis: Shows how **对不对** can be used after a more complex statement involving a comparison. * **Example 10:** * 只要我们努力，就一定能成功，**对不对**？ * Pinyin: Zhǐyào wǒmen nǔlì, jiù yīdìng néng chénggōng, **duì bu duì**? * English: As long as we work hard, we can definitely succeed, right? * Analysis: Used in a motivational context to build consensus and shared spirit. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake: Using `吗 (ma)` and `对不对 (duì bu duì)` together.** * **Incorrect:** `今天很热，对不对吗？` (Jīntiān hěn rè, duì bu duì ma?) * **Reason:** Both `吗` and `对不对` turn a statement into a question. Using both is redundant. It's like saying "Today is hot, right, yes/no?". * **Correct:** `今天很热，对不对？` OR `今天热吗？` * **Nuance: `对不对 (duì bu duì)` vs. `是不是 (shì bu shì)`** * Both can function as general-purpose tag questions. **对不对** checks the "correctness" of the entire statement, while **是不是 (shì bu shì)** literally checks the "is-ness" (from the verb `是`, to be). * **Example:** `他是老师，是不是？` (Tā shì lǎoshī, shì bu shì?) - He is a teacher, isn't he? (Very natural, confirms the "is"). * **Example:** `他是老师，对不对？` (Tā shì lǎoshī, duì bu duì?) - He is a teacher, correct? (Also perfectly fine, confirms the statement is "correct"). * **Key Difference:** While often interchangeable, **是不是** can also be placed before the verb or at the beginning of the sentence (`你是不是不想去？` - Is it that you don't want to go?), whereas **对不对** is almost always used at the end as a tag. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[是不是]] (shì bu shì) - A very similar tag question, literally "is or is not?", often interchangeable with **对不对**. * [[好不好]] (hǎo bu hǎo) - A tag question for making suggestions, meaning "...okay?". Used to ask for approval. Example: `我们去看电影，好不好？` (Let's go see a movie, okay?). * [[行不行]] (xíng bu xíng) - A tag question asking if something is acceptable or will work. Example: `我用你的电脑，行不行？` (I'll use your computer, is that okay/will that work?). * [[A-not-A Questions]] - The grammatical category that **对不对** belongs to, where a question is formed by stating a verb and its negative form (e.g., `去不去 qù bu qù`, `想不想 xiǎng bu xiǎng`). * [[吗]] (ma) - The most common question particle, placed at the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question. * [[没错]] (méi cuò) - A very common affirmative answer to a **对不对** question. It means "that's right" or "not wrong." * [[对]] (duì) - The simplest affirmative answer, meaning "Correct" or "Right."