Particles

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

whether (or not)是否shì fǒu (whether or not)

An application form

• The form asks a yes-or-no question about your previous applications.
• to ask请qǐngto explain说明shuō míngyou (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto apply for sth申请shēn qǐng过本guò běnitem项目xiàng mù。 – "Please state whether you have applied for this programme before."

whether (or not)是否shì fǒu + verb = whether or not

• whether (or not)是否shì fǒu = "whether (or not)", the formal form of is or isn't是不是shì bú shì: whether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì, whether (or not)是否shì fǒuto participate参加cān jiā, whether (or not)是否shì fǒuto need需要xū yào.
• It goes before the verb or adjective.

please请qǐngtell告诉gào suus我们wǒ menyou您nínwhether是否shì fǒuwill attend参加cān jiā。

Questions and embedded questions

• Direct: you (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yìthis这个zhè geplan方案fāng àn？ – "Do you agree with this proposal?"
• Embedded: I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dàohe / him他tāwhether (or not)是否shì fǒucan / will会huìto come来lái。 – "I don't know whether he'll come."

I我wǒdon't不bùknow知道zhī dàohe他tāwhether是否shì fǒuwill会huìcome来lái。

No (yes/no ?)吗ma, no second negative

• whether (or not)是否shì fǒu already makes it a question: you (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì？, not you (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì(yes/no ?)吗ma？
• Do not add not不bù after it: whether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì, not whether (or not)是否shì fǒunot不bùto agree同意tóng yì (unless you really mean "whether you disagree").

whether (or not)是否shì fǒu versus is or isn't是不是shì bú shì and whether or not能否néng fǒu

• is or isn't是不是shì bú shì is the spoken form: you你nǐis or isn't是不是shì bú shìrope累lèi(completed / change)了le？
• whether or not能否néng fǒu = whether (one) can, also formal: whether or not能否néng fǒuon time按时àn shíto complete完成wán chéngstill / also还háinot不bùdefinite确定què dìng.

whether we can能否néng fǒuon time按时àn shífinish完成wán chéngstill还háinot不búcertain确定què dìng。

Recap

• whether (or not)是否shì fǒu + verb = whether (or not) (formal is or isn't是不是shì bú shì); no (yes/no ?)吗ma with it.
• whether or not能否néng fǒu = whether one can.

Practise this pattern step by step.

… whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu (whether … or not)

Success depends on it

• A coach explains what really decides a match.
• competition (sports etc)比赛bǐ sàisuccess成功chéng gōngwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu，to hinge on取决于qǔ jué yúordinarily平时píng shí(modifier / structural particle)的deto train训练xùn liàn。 – "Whether the match succeeds or not depends on everyday training."

Verb / Adj + whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu = whether … or not

• X whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu = whether X or not, placed after the word: success成功chéng gōngwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu, to agree同意tóng yìwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu, suitable合适hé shìwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu.
• It is formal and usually works as a topic or object.

agree同意tóng yìor not与否yǔ fǒu，please请qǐngsoon尽快jǐn kuàireply回复huí fù。

With to hinge on取决于qǔ jué yú, variant of 关系关系guān xìto / arrive到dào, not to be concerned不管bù guǎn

• method方法fāng fǎcorrect正确zhèng quèwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu，variant of 关系关系guān xìto / arrive到dàooutcome结果jié guǒ。 – "Whether the method is correct affects the result."
• not to be concerned不管bù guǎnyou你nǐto like喜欢xǐ huanwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu，all / both都dōuwant / will / need要yàoto complete完成wán chéng。 – "Whether you like it or not, you have to finish."

regardless of不管bù guǎnyou你nǐlike it喜欢xǐ huanor not与否yǔ fǒu，still都dōumust要yàofinish完成wán chéng。

Two-syllable words, formal style

• whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu follows the predicate or issue being considered. Two-syllable examples are common, but syllable count alone does not decide whether the phrase is grammatical.
• In speech, use A-not-A: to succeed成chéngnot不bùsuccess成功chéng gōng / 喜不喜欢xǐ bù xǐ huān.

whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu versus whether (or not)是否shì fǒu

• whether (or not)是否shì fǒu goes before the verb: whether (or not)是否shì fǒusuccess成功chéng gōng.
• whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu goes after it: success成功chéng gōngwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu. Both mean "whether or not"; whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu often makes a noun-like topic.

whether是否shì fǒusucceed成功chéng gōngstill还háinot不bùknown知道zhī dào。

Recap

• X whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu = whether X or not, following the predicate or issue; common in formal topics.
• whether (or not)是否shì fǒu goes before the verb; speech uses A-not-A.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Noun + (of — literary)之zhī + Noun (a literary (modifier / structural particle)的de)

A literary title

• You see a museum banner introducing a famous city.
• Xi'an, sub-provincial city…西安xī ānto be / is是shìChina中国zhōng guó(modifier / structural particle)的deancient capital古都gǔ dūone of (sth)之一zhī yī，to have / there is有yǒu"world世界shì jièthe four elements: earth…四大sì dàancient capital古都gǔ dūone of (sth)之一zhī yī"之称zhī chēng。 – "Xi'an is one of China's ancient capitals and is called one of the world's four great ancient capitals."

Noun + (of — literary)之zhī + Noun = a literary (modifier / structural particle)的de

• (of — literary)之zhī links a modifier to a noun in formal or classical style: 中国之最zhōng guó zhī zuì (China's greatest), 成功之路chéng gōng zhī lù (the road to success).
• It appears in fixed phrases and titles more than in everyday speech.

success成功chéng gōngof之zhīthe road路lù。

Fixed phrases you'll meet

• one of (sth)之一zhī yī = one of; (after a noun) between之间zhī jiān = between; before之前zhī qián / after之后zhī hòu = before / after; (after a noun N and before…之所以zhī suǒ yǐ = the reason why.
• cause原因yuán yīnone of (sth)之一zhī yī – "one of the reasons"; friend朋友péng yǒu(after a noun) between之间zhī jiān – "between friends".

friends朋友péng youbetween之间zhī jiānshould要yàoeach other互相hù xiānghelp帮助bāng zhù。

Written style

• Do not replace every (modifier / structural particle)的de with (of — literary)之zhī in speech; 我之书wǒ zhī shū sounds archaic. Say I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū.
• (of — literary)之zhī often sits between two-syllable words or in four-character set phrases: the whole year must be…一年之计在于春yī nián zhī jì zài yú chūn.

(of — literary)之zhī versus (modifier / structural particle)的de

• (modifier / structural particle)的de is the everyday link: China中国zhōng guó(modifier / structural particle)的decapital (city)首都shǒu dū.
• (of — literary)之zhī is the literary one, kept in titles and set phrases: China中国zhōng guó之窗zhī chuāng – "Window on China".

the year's一年yì niánof之zhīplan计jìlies in在于zài yúspring春chūn。

Recap

• Noun + (of — literary)之zhī + Noun = literary (modifier / structural particle)的de, in titles and set phrases.
• Fixed: one of (sth)之一zhī yī, (after a noun) between之间zhī jiān, before之前zhī qián, after之后zhī hòu; everyday speech uses (modifier / structural particle)的de.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Statement + (obviously)嘛ma (self-evident)

Of course it's crowded

• Your friend complains about the crowds at the shopping mall on a Saturday.
• weekend周末zhōu mò(obviously)嘛ma，person人rénof course当然dāng ránmany多duō。 – "Well, it's the weekend – of course it's crowded."

Statement + (obviously)嘛ma = it's obvious

• (obviously)嘛ma at the end of a statement presents it as obvious, a reason the listener should accept.
• It can also follow a topic before the comment: weekend周末zhōu mò(obviously)嘛ma，….

he他tāis是shìnew新xīnarrived来lái的de(after all)嘛ma，not不bùfamiliar熟悉shú xīvery很hěnnormal正常zhèng cháng。

Explaining and gentle urging

• Explaining: handwork手工shǒu gōngto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的de(obviously)嘛ma，expensive贵guìerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn érdegree / adjective linker很hěnregular正常zhèng cháng。 – "It's handmade, after all – of course it's a bit pricey."
• Urging: erhua variant of 快点快点儿kuài diǎn ér(obviously)嘛ma！ – "Come on, hurry up!" (softly insistent)

by hand手工shǒu gōngmade做zuò的de(after all)嘛ma，expensive贵guìa bit一点儿yì diǎnrvery很hěnnormal正常zhèng cháng。

(obviously)嘛ma is not (yes/no ?)吗ma

• (yes/no ?)吗ma asks a yes/no question; (obviously)嘛ma states something obvious. you你nǐto know知道zhī dào(yes/no ?)吗ma？ asks; you你nǐto know知道zhī dào(obviously)嘛ma means "you know that, obviously".
• (obviously)嘛ma is casual; leave it out of formal writing.

(obviously)嘛ma versus (suggestion)吧ba and modal particle indicating…呗bei

• (suggestion)吧ba suggests or guesses: to walk走zǒu(suggestion)吧ba / he / him他tāto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(suggestion)吧ba？
• modal particle indicating…呗bei shrugs: "that's all there is to it": improbable不会bú huìto attend school就学jiù xuémodal particle indicating…呗bei.

don't不búknow how会huìthen就jiùlearn学xué(simple)呗bei。

Recap

• Statement + (obviously)嘛ma = it's obvious, after all; also gentle urging (erhua variant of 快点快点儿kuài diǎn ér(obviously)嘛ma).
• Not a question ((yes/no ?)吗ma); casual only.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Sentence + modal particle indicating…呗bei (a casual shrug)

Simple as that

• Your friend worries she doesn't know how to cook the dish for the party.
• improbable不会bú huìto attend school就学jiù xuémodal particle indicating…呗bei，again又yòu不难bù nán。 – "If you don't know how, just learn – it's not hard."

Sentence + modal particle indicating…呗bei = obviously, that's all

• modal particle indicating…呗bei (bei) ends a sentence with a shrug: the answer is simple, no big deal.
• Common with then / just就jiù: unexpectedly不想bù xiǎngto go去qùthen / just就jiùdon't别biéto go去qùmodal particle indicating…呗bei.

don't不bùwant to想xiǎnggo去qùthen就jiùdon't别biégo去qù(simple)呗bei。

Casual answers

• A: we / us我们wǒ mento go去qùwhere哪儿nǎrvariant of 吃吃chī？ B: as one wishes随便suí biànmodal particle indicating…呗bei。 – "Wherever, doesn't matter."
• he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái(coll.) even if就算jiù suàn(completed / change)了lemodal particle indicating…呗bei。 – "If he's not coming, so be it."

whatever随便suí biàn(no big deal)呗bei。

Very casual, can sound dismissive

• modal particle indicating…呗bei can sound careless or impatient; avoid it with teachers or in formal situations.
• It is a statement, never a question: no question mark.

modal particle indicating…呗bei versus (obviously)嘛ma and (suggestion)吧ba

• (obviously)嘛ma = it's obvious (explaining): weekend周末zhōu mò(obviously)嘛ma，人多rén duō.
• modal particle indicating…呗bei = no big deal (shrugging): 人多rén duōthen / just就jiùperson人rénmany多duōmodal particle indicating…呗bei. (suggestion)吧ba = suggestion: to walk走zǒu(suggestion)吧ba.

people人rénmany多duō(so be it)就jiùpeople人rénmany多duō(whatever)呗bei。

Recap

• Sentence + modal particle indicating…呗bei = no big deal, that's all there is to it (casual shrug).
• Often with then / just就jiù; can sound dismissive; (obviously)嘛ma explains, (suggestion)吧ba suggests.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

whether (or not)是否shì fǒu (whether or not)

0501.1 Complete (form): “Please state whether you need a receipt.” to ask请qǐngto explain说明shuō míngyou (polite)您nín…………to need需要xū yàoinvoice发票fā piào。

0501.2 Which is correct?

• A. you (polite)您nínto agree同意tóng yìwhether (or not)是否shì fǒu？
• B. whether (or not)是否shì fǒuyou (polite)您nínto agree同意tóng yì(yes/no ?)吗ma？
• C. you (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì？
• D. you (polite)您nínwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto agree同意tóng yì(yes/no ?)吗ma？

0501.3 Build: “I don't know whether he'll come.”

Arrange all chunks: can / will会huìto come来lái。 / I / me我wǒnot不bùto know知道zhī dào / he / him他tā / whether (or not)是否shì fǒu

0501.4 is or isn't是不是shì bú shì is the spoken equivalent of whether (or not)是否shì fǒu.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0501.5 The form asks a yes-or-no question about your previous applications. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

… whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu (whether … or not)

0502.1 Complete: “Whether it succeeds or not depends on training.” success成功chéng gōng…………，to hinge on取决于qǔ jué yúto train训练xùn liàn。

0502.2 Which word order is correct for whether (or not)是否shì fǒu?

• A. success成功chéng gōngwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuand / with与yǔ
• B. whether (or not)是否shì fǒusuccess成功chéng gōngwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu
• C. success成功chéng gōngwhether (or not)是否shì fǒu
• D. whether (or not)是否shì fǒusuccess成功chéng gōng

0502.3 Build: “Whether you like it or not, you must finish.”

Arrange all chunks: ， / all / both都dōuwant / will / need要yào / not to be concerned不管bù guǎnyou你nǐto like喜欢xǐ huanwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu / to complete完成wán chéng。

0502.4 In speech, 喜不喜欢xǐ bù xǐ huān is more natural than to like喜欢xǐ huanwhether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0502.5 A coach explains what really decides a match. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Noun + (of — literary)之zhī + Noun (a literary (modifier / structural particle)的de)

0503.1 Complete: “one of the reasons” cause原因yuán yīn…………one / a一yī

0503.2 Which sounds most natural in conversation?

• A. this这zhèto be / is是shìI / me我wǒ(of — literary)之zhībook书shū。
• B. this这zhèto be / is是shì(of — literary)之zhīI / me我wǒbook书shū。
• C. this这zhèto be / is是shìbook书shū(of — literary)之zhīI / me我wǒ。
• D. this这zhèto be / is是shìI / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的debook书shū。

0503.3 Match each phrase to its meaning.

• 1. (after a noun) between之间zhī jiān
• 2. before之前zhī qián
• 3. after之后zhī hòu
• 4. one of (sth)之一zhī yī

• A. one of

• B. before

• C. after

• D. between

0503.4 (of — literary)之zhī is common in titles and set phrases.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0503.5 You see a museum banner introducing a famous city. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Statement + (obviously)嘛ma (self-evident)

0504.1 Complete: “It's handmade, after all – of course it's pricey.” handwork手工shǒu gōngto make做zuò(modifier / structural particle)的de…………，expensive贵guìerhua variant of 一点一点儿yì diǎn érdegree / adjective linker很hěnregular正常zhèng cháng。

0504.2 Which is a yes/no question?

• A. you你nǐto know知道zhī dào(obviously)嘛ma。
• B. you你nǐto know知道zhī dàomodal particle indicating…呗bei。
• C. you你nǐto know知道zhī dào(yes/no ?)吗ma？
• D. weekend周末zhōu mò(obviously)嘛ma。

0504.3 Build: “It's the weekend – of course it's crowded.”

Arrange all chunks: weekend周末zhōu mò(obviously)嘛ma / of course当然dāng ránmany多duō。 / ， / person人rén

0504.4 erhua variant of 快点快点儿kuài diǎn ér(obviously)嘛ma！ is a soft, insistent urging.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0504.5 Your friend complains about the crowds at the shopping mall on a Saturday. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

Sentence + modal particle indicating…呗bei (a casual shrug)

0505.1 Shrug: “If you don't want to go, just don't.” unexpectedly不想bù xiǎngto go去qùthen / just就jiùdon't别biéto go去qù…………。

0505.2 In which situation is modal particle indicating…呗bei least appropriate?

• A. Chatting with a close friend
• B. Replying to a classmate's text
• C. Answering a question from your teacher in class
• D. Joking with a sibling

0505.3 Build: “If he's not coming, so be it.”

Arrange all chunks: modal particle indicating…呗bei。 / (coll.) even if就算jiù suàn(completed / change)了le / he / him他tānot不bùto come来lái

0505.4 modal particle indicating…呗bei can end a question.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0505.5 Your friend worries she doesn't know how to cook the dish for the party. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A learner adds (yes/no ?)吗ma to to ask请qǐngto confirm确认què rènwhether (or not)是否shì fǒuto participate参加cān jiā(yes/no ?)吗ma and expects a straightforward indirect whether clause. Improve it.

R2. Use it yourself. Ask whether a plan is feasible using whether (or not)是否shì fǒu and then express the same issue with whether or not (at the end…与否yǔ fǒu.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.