Asking Questions (2) - (A-不-A)

Forming a yes or no question may be achieved by including both the positive and negative form of a verb or adjective in a single sentence. This is a common alternative to attaching the word 嗎 (ma) at the end of a statement.

Usually, a positive verb or adjective may be converted into its negative form by attaching the word 不 (bù) in front of it.

Following are some examples:

你	懂	不	懂	?		你 = you 懂 = understand 不懂 ＝ not understand
Ní	Dŏng	Bù	Dŏng	?
Do you understand or not?
她	美	不	美	?		她 = she ; her 美 = pretty ; beautiful 不 美 ＝ not pretty
Tā	Měi	Bù	Měi	?
Is she pretty or not?
是	不	是	他	?		是 ＝ is 不是 ＝ is not 他 = he ; him
ShÌ	Bú	ShÌ	Tā	?
Is it him or not?
這	樣	對	不	對	?	這樣 = this way 對 = right; correct 不對 = not right; not correct
Zhè	Yà	Duì	Bú	Duì	?
Is this way right or not?

However, one exception must be noted.

The negative form of the verb 有 (yŏu) is not converted by attaching the word 不 (bù). The word 沒（méi) should be used instead to convert the verb 有 (yŏu) into its negative form.

For example:

你	有	沒	有	錢	?		你 = you 有 = have 沒有 ＝ not have 錢 ＝ money
Ní	Yŏu	Méi	Yŏu	Qián	?
Do you have money or not?