A-not-A Questions
正反疑问
Ask 'is it or not?' style questions
Present both the positive and negative forms of a verb or adjective side by side to form a question. This is like asking "do or don't?" in a single breath.
Use 不 for present/future/habitual actions, and 没 for past actions or 有 questions. The pattern …了没有 is specifically for asking whether something has happened yet.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: A-not-A Questions (正反疑问)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 正反疑问 pattern
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Understanding 正反疑问
A-not-A questions are the rockstars of casual Chinese. Instead of adding 吗 (which can sound a bit formal or textbook-ish), native speakers love to smash the positive and negative together: 好不好？(good or not?), 吃不吃？(eat or not?). It's direct, efficient, and sounds incredibly natural. Think of it as the verbal equivalent of a light switch — you're flipping it on and off in one question: "Is it ON or OFF?" Chinese people use this form constantly, especially in everyday conversation. What makes A-not-A feel so natural is that it's truly neutral — you're not leaning toward "yes" or "no." You're genuinely presenting both possibilities and letting the listener choose. That's why surveys, official questions, and casual chats all love this form.
Key Points
- V + 不 + V for present/future: 你去不去？(Are you going or not?)
- Adj + 不 + Adj: 这个好不好？(Is this good or not?)
- V + 没 + V for past actions: 你吃没吃早饭？(Did you eat breakfast or not?)
- 有没有 is the A-not-A form of 有: 你有没有钱？(Do you have money?)
- …了没有？asks about completion: 他回来了没有？(Has he come back?)
- For two-syllable verbs, you can shorten: 喜不喜欢 (like or not) — repeat only the first syllable + 不 + full verb
- Never combine A-not-A with 吗 — the A-not-A structure IS the question, adding 吗 is redundant
- Common tag versions: 好不好？(OK?), 行不行？(Will that work?), 对不对？(Right?) — drop these at the end of any sentence to confirm
In surveys and formal polls, Chinese uses A-not-A phrasing to avoid leading questions: 你同意不同意？(Do you agree or disagree?) sounds more neutral than 你同意吗？(Do you agree?) — the 吗 version slightly implies the speaker expects "yes."
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
电影好不好看？
Is the movie good or not?
Adj + 不 + Adj pattern
你吃不吃包子？
Are you eating buns or not?
他回家了没有？
Has he gone home?
Asking about completed actions
你有没有哥哥？
Do you have an older brother?
你喜不喜欢吃辣的？
Do you like spicy food or not?
Two-syllable verb: shortened first part
明天的会你去不去？
Are you going to tomorrow's meeting?
这家医院好不好？
Is this hospital good or not?
Asking for a recommendation
你今天想不想出去走走？
Do you feel like going out for a walk today?
Casual invitation to a friend
咖啡凉了没有？
Has the coffee cooled down yet?
Asking about a change of state
你能不能帮我一个忙？
Can you do me a favor?
Polite request at work or among friends
Common Mistakes
For present/future actions, use 不: 去不去. For asking about past completion, use the …了没有 pattern. 没 replaces 不 only with 有 (有没有) or in the completion form.
Never add 吗 to an A-not-A question! The A-not-A structure already makes it a question. Adding 吗 is double-questioning.
When asking about an adjective, use the adjective in A-not-A form directly (好不好看), not 是不是 + adjective. 是不是 is used to confirm identity or facts, not to ask about qualities.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
In real conversations, A-not-A sounds more natural than 吗 questions. 你忙不忙？(Busy or not?) feels friendlier than 你忙吗？(Are you busy?). Practice switching all your 吗 questions to A-not-A.
For two-syllable verbs, you only need to repeat the first syllable before 不: 喜不喜欢 (not 喜欢不喜欢). But repeating the full verb is also acceptable and sometimes heard.
Tag questions are mini A-not-A patterns: 好不好？(OK?), 对不对？(Right?), 行不行？(Will it work?). Drop these at the end of any statement to check with the listener.
Use 能不能 to make polite requests: 你能不能帮我…？(Could you help me...?) sounds natural and respectful in any situation — at work, at school, or with friends.
When chatting online, Chinese netizens often shorten A-not-A to save typing. 喜不喜欢 becomes just 喜欢不？and everyone understands. The pattern is flexible in casual contexts.
Homework
Convert ten of your previous 吗 questions into A-not-A form. Then write five new questions using the …了没有 pattern to ask friends whether they've completed certain actions (eaten, finished work, arrived home, etc.). Practice saying them out loud until the rhythm feels natural.