是否 (whether or not)
The paperwork version of is or isn't是不是
- whether (or not)是否 + Verb / Adj = "whether (or not)" — a formal is or isn't是不是.
- Excuse me, may I ask...?请问you (polite)您whether (or not)是否satisfied满意? = "may I ask whether you're satisfied?"
- whether (or not)是否 embeds a yes/no question inside a sentence.
whether (or not)是否 + Verb / Adjective
- whether (or not)是否 = "whether or not", in a formal register.
please请confirm确认you您whether是否agree同意。
- whether (or not)是否to agree同意 = "whether (you) agree."
Explore
Correct or broken?
是否 folds 'whether or not' into two characters — and already contains the question.
Practice
…whether you agree: 请确认您 ____ 同意。
是否 + Verb / Adj = whether or not: 是否同意.
Practice
是否 embeds a yes/no question inside a sentence.
Yes — 确认是否可行 (confirm whether it's feasible).
Recap
Key idea
- whether (or not)是否 + Verb / Adj — "whether (or not)" (formal is or isn't是不是)
- whether (or not)是否satisfied满意 · whether (or not)是否to agree同意 · whether (or not)是否feasible可行
- Embeds a yes/no question; written register
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Particles.
Practice
是否 is the formal version of…
是否满意 = whether (you are) satisfied; formal 是不是.