你不是学生吗？(nǐ búshì xuéshēng ma?) — "Aren't you a student?" That's the pattern 不是...吗 (búshì...ma) at work: you wrap a statement inside 不是 and 吗 to turn it into a rhetorical question where you already believe the answer is yes. In this HSK 2 speaking lesson, you'll practice forming these questions out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin.
The structure is simple: 不是 + Statement + 吗？ You take something you believe is true and frame it as a question to gently remind someone or express surprise. For example, 你不是学生吗？(nǐ búshì xuéshēng ma?) means "Aren't you a student?" — you're not genuinely asking; you're pointing out that the person is, in fact, a student. Use this pattern when someone seems to have forgotten something obvious or when reality doesn't match your expectation.
This is a live voice conversation — you talk with Mei Lin in real time, not type. Over roughly 10 minutes, Mei Lin guides you through forming rhetorical questions using 不是...吗 (búshì...ma). She corrects your grammar and pronunciation as you speak, adapting to your level. You'll practice both uses: gentle reminders and expressions of surprise. If you're working through other HSK 2 lessons, this one pairs well with Expressing Lateness (才 (cái)) and Going Away (去 (qù)).
After the lesson, reinforce what you learned by writing out the characters with free printable worksheets from the Chinese Worksheet Generator. The first live lesson is free — just start talking and Mei Lin takes it from there.
不是...吗 (búshì...ma) is a rhetorical question pattern meaning "Isn't it...?" You wrap a statement inside 不是 and 吗 to signal that you already believe the answer is yes. For example, 你不是学生吗？(nǐ búshì xuéshēng ma?) means "Aren't you a student?" — you're reminding the person, not genuinely asking.
Use 不是...吗 (búshì...ma) when someone seems to have forgotten something obvious or when reality doesn't match your expectation. A normal question seeks new information, but this pattern assumes you already know the answer. Mei Lin will coach you on both uses — gentle reminders and expressions of surprise — during the live conversation.
This live voice lesson with Mei Lin takes roughly 10 minutes and focuses entirely on the 不是...吗 (búshì...ma) pattern. You'll speak out loud, and Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation. The first lesson is free to try.