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可不是 (kě bú shi) — that's exactly it; you're right (used to agree emphatically); indeed; isn't that just the way it is?

Definition

可不是 (kě bú shi) is an emphatic conversational tag meaning "that's exactly it / isn't it so!" — used to strongly agree, not to add new information. It functions as a reaction like "right on!" rather than an information-bearing adverb.

adverb
that's exactly ityou're right (used to agree emphatically)indeedisn't that just the way it is?

Examples

  • ：。：可不是！
    Jiǎ: zhè diàn yǐng tài wú liáo le. yǐ: kě bú shi!
    A: This movie is so boring. B: Exactly!
  • 可不是？。
    kě bú shi Ma? wǒ yě zhè me jué de.
    Isn't that so? I feel the same way.
  • ，可不是。
    Nǐ shuō de duì, kě bú shi.
    You're right, indeed.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Conflict & Agreement

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