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plExplanations
The A-not-A question is a very common type of yes-no question in Chinese formed by placing the negated form of a verb, modal verb or adjective after the positive form. This construction embeds the choice directly in the sentence structure and expects the speaker to choose one of the two options. It is a neutral sentence, in which the speaker does not have any presuppositions
Structure
Basic structure
An A-not-A question is formed by repeating the key adjective, verb, or modal verb, and adding bù 不/ méi 没 in between. If the sentence contains both a modal verb and a main verb, only the modal verb is repeated. When the adjective, verb, or modal verb is disyllabic, the second syllable in the first A in the A-not-A structure can be omitted.
The way to answer an A-not-A question is to provide a positive or negative response, including the verb, modal verb, or adjective.
With objects
If an object is present in the sentence, it is most often placed after the negative form.
For possession and many questions with verb yǒu 有 ‘to have’ denoting a completed-event, the A-not-A pattern is formed with méi 没 ‘not’.
Here méi 没 is used instead of bù 不, because the sentence is about an action that has not (yet) happened in reality. Méi 没 negates completed or actual events, while bù 不 is normally used for general habits, future plans, or willingness, not for ‘not-yet’ past events.
As an embedded question
A-not-A forms can also appear as embedded questions inside a larger sentence, rather than as main questions. In this use, they do not directly ask the listener a question. Instead, they are embedded under verbs such as zhīdào 知道 ‘know’, wèn 问 ‘ask’, or xiǎng 想 ‘think’ to report uncertainty, inquiry, or doubt about whether something is true.
Functions
1. Forming neutral yes-no questions
A-not-A construction directly embeds the choice into the sentence and asks for an affirmative or negative answer.
Note: degree adverbs (such as hěn 很 ‘very’, fēicháng 非常 ‘very’, tài 太 ‘too’, zhēn 真 ’really’) cannot be used in combination with A-not-A questions.
2. Expressing polite invitations or suggestions
Placing patterns such as hǎo bù hǎo 好不好, xíng bù xíng 行不行, kě(yǐ) bù kěyǐ 可(以)不可以, or duì bú duì 对不对 at the end of a statement softens the tone and invites agreement.
Also check Interrogatives: Using 好吗, 可以吗, 行吗, 怎么样