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与否 (yǔ fǒu) — (formal phrase) whether or not (attached to a verb or adjective at the end of a phrase)

Definition

与否 is a formal 'whether or not' attached after a verb or adjective, often in 是否 X 与否 patterns. 能否 focuses on possibility ('whether one can'); 与否 is the neutral yes/no framing.

phrase
(formal phrase) whether or not (attached to a verb or adjective at the end of a phrase)

Examples

  • 与否，。
    Zhè ge jì huà kě xíng yǔ fǒu, hái xū yào píng gū.
    Whether this plan is feasible or not, further evaluation is needed.
  • 与否，。
    Shì fǒu jiē shòu yǔ fǒu, nǐ zì jǐ jué dìng.
    Whether to accept or not, you decide yourself.
  • 与否，。
    Jié guǒ yǔ fǒu, miàn duì cái shì zuì zhòng yào de.
    No matter what the outcome is, facing it is what matters most.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

与yǔand
否fǒunot

与 means 'and' and 否 means 'not'; together they form 'whether or not'.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 與; 与 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 與 is built from 舁 and 牙, and both parts give the sound.

Open 与 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
不
不bù否pǐ
Same sound today

否 is built from 口 (mouth) and 不 (not), with 不 giving the sound and 口 relating to speech.

Open 否 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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