……，对不对 / 好不好 (tag question with 不)

• Pinyin: duì bu duì / hǎo bu hǎo
• Formation: Statement + ，对不对 / 好不好 / 是不是？
• Hanzi breakdown: 对 = 又 (again) + 寸 (inch)

Meaning

A statement followed by an A-not-A phrase like 对不对, 好不好, or 是不是 forms a tag question, asking for confirmation or agreement. It is similar to English 'right?' or 'okay?'.

Tag questions using the A-not-A structure are appended to statements to seek confirmation (对不对, 是不是) or agreement to a suggestion (好不好, 行不行). 对不对 and 是不是 are used when the speaker believes something is true and wants the listener to confirm: 你是北京人，对不对？(You're from Beijing, right?). 好不好 and 行不行 are used when proposing something: 我们走吧，好不好？(Let's go, okay?). These tags are softer and more polite than direct commands or bald statements. 是不是 can also be inserted into the middle of a sentence for emphasis: 你是不是忘了？(Did you forget?). The tone is usually rising on the tag, just like English tag questions.

Examples

1. 这道题的答案是C，对不对？ The answer to this question is C, right?
2. 我们下课以后去吃饭，好不好？ Let's go eat after class, okay?
3. 你昨天没来学校，是不是？ You didn't come to school yesterday, did you?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday

Tone: confirmatory

Do Say

• 他说的是真的，对不对？
• 我们先把这个做完，好不好？
• 你已经见过她了，是不是？

Don't Say

• 你是学生，对不对吗？(Do not add 吗 after a tag question — the A-not-A tag already functions as a question marker) → 你是学生，对不对？
• 明天放假，好不好不好？(Do not repeat the tag — one 好不好 is sufficient) → 明天放假，好不好？

Origin & History

Tag questions using A-not-A forms at the end of sentences developed as a natural extension of the broader A-not-A question pattern. They offer a less confrontational way to confirm information or seek agreement compared to direct questions.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal