别是 (bié shì) — (fixed phrase) could it be that...; it may be that... (expressing worried conjecture)

Definition

别是 (biéshì) marks a worried guess: 'could it be that…?', used when the speaker suspects something bad may have happened. Tone is anxious speculation, not neutral possibility.

verb
(fixed phrase) could it be that...it may be that... (expressing worried conjecture)

Examples

  • 别是？
    bié shì Tā chū shì le?
    Could it be that something happened to him?
  • 别是？
    bié shì Yào shi wàng zài jiā lǐ le?
    Could it be that I left the keys at home?
  • 别是？
    bié shì Tā bù lái le?
    Could it be that she's not coming?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

别biéperhaps
是shìbe

别 (perhaps) and 是 (be) combine to suggest 'could it be that'.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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