是否 (shìfǒu) — Whether in Mandarin
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#397 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR C1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
是否 is pronounced shìfǒu. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
wǒ búzhīdào tā shìfǒu huì lái.
I don't know whether he will come.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 是否 mean?+
是否 (shìfǒu) means "Whether" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 是否?+
是否 is pronounced shìfǒu. It uses the tone 4 (falling), then the tone 3 (rising/dipping). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 是否 in Mandarin?+
是否 is the #397 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 是否 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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