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"whether" Chinese-English Dictionary

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Chinese Pinyin Translation
是否 shì fǒu adv. whether (or not) / if / is or isn't syn
Chinese Pinyin Translation
无论 無論 wú lùn conj. no matter what or how / regardless of whether... syn
能否 néng fǒu v. whether or not / can it or can't it / is it possible? syn
厉害 厲害 lì hai adj. (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfavorable) terrible / intense / severe / devastating / amazing / awesome / outstanding / (of a person) stern / strict / harsh / shrewd / tough / (of an animal) fierce / (of a resemblance) striking / (of liquor or chili pepper) strong / (of bacteria) virulent syn
利害 lì hai (used to describe sb or sth that makes a very strong impression, whether favorable or unfavorable) terrible / intense / severe / devastating / amazing / awesome / outstanding / (of a person) stern / strict / harsh / shrewd / tough / (of an animal) fierce / (of a resemblance) striking / (of liquor or chili pepper) strong / (of bacteria) virulent / variant of 厲害|厉害[li4hai5] syn
轻重 輕重 qīng zhòng n. severity (of the case) / degree of seriousness / whether sth is slight or serious syn
激将法 激將法 jī jiàng fǎ indirect, psychological method of getting sb to do as one wishes (e.g. questioning whether they are up to the task)
是不是 shì bù shì is or isn't / yes or no / whether or not syn
会不会 會不會 huì bù huì (posing a question: whether sb, something) can or cannot? / is able to or not
与否 與否 yǔ fǒu part. whether or not (at the end of a phrase) syn
也罢 也罷 yě bà (reduplicated) whether... or... / never mind / fine (indicating acceptance or resignation) syn
哭笑不得 kū xiào bù dé lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom) / both funny and extremely embarrassing / between laughter and tears syn
啼笑皆非 tí xiào jiē fēi lit. not to know whether to laugh or cry (idiom) / between laughter and tears syn
高矮 gāo ǎi height (i.e. whether short or tall) syn
试婚 試婚 shì hūn trial marriage / to live together before deciding whether to marry
缓急 緩急 huǎn jí priority / whether sth is urgent syn
墒情 shāng qíng the state of moisture in the soil (and whether it can support a crop)
忖度 cǔn duó to speculate / to surmise / to wonder whether / to guess syn
镊 鑷 niè (bound form) tweezers / to use tweezers (to grasp, pick up, or pull out etc, depending on whether the following resultative verb is 住[zhu4] or 起[qi3] or 出[chu1] etc) syn
冷暖自知 lěng nuǎn zì zhī the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb) / self-awareness comes from within / to know best by personal experience / see 如人飲水，冷暖自知|如人饮水，冷暖自知[ru2 ren2 yin3 shui3 , leng3 nuan3 zi4 zhi1]
真伪莫辨 真偽莫辨 zhēn wěi mò biàn can't judge true or false (idiom) / unable to distinguish the genuine from the fake / not to know whether to believe (what one reads in the news)
树欲静而风不止 樹欲靜而風不止 shù yù jìng ér fēng bù zhǐ lit. the trees long for peace but the wind will never cease (idiom) / fig. the world changes, whether you want it or not
细大不捐 細大不捐 xì dà bù juān not to discard anything, whether small or big (idiom) / all-embracing syn
吉凶未卜 jí xiōng wèi bǔ (idiom) It is impossible to predict whether the outcome will be favorable or unfavorable, or whether the undertaking will succeed or fail.
量力度德 liàng lì duó dé (idiom) To assess whether one’s virtue is sufficient to command respect and whether one’s abilities are adequate for a task.
愿意不愿意 願意不願意 yuàn yì bù yuàn yì whether one wants to or not
冰炭不言，冷热自明 冰炭不言，冷熱自明 bīng tàn bù yán , lěng rè zì míng ice or coals, whether hot or cold goes without saying (idiom) / fig. sincerity is not expressed in words
冷煖自知 lěng nuǎn zì zhī the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb) / self-awareness comes from within / to know best by personal experience
反正一样 反正一樣 fǎn zhèng yī yàng whether it's right or wrong doesn't make a lot of difference / six of one and half a dozen of the other / as broad as it is long
问鼎轻重 問鼎輕重 wèn dǐng qīng zhòng lit. to inquire whether the tripods are light or heavy (idiom) / a laughable attempt to seize power
如人饮水，冷暖自知 如人飲水，冷暖自知 rú rén yǐn shuǐ , lěng nuǎn zì zhī the person who drinks it knows best whether the water is hot or cold (Zen proverb) / self-awareness comes from within / to know best by personal experience
知冷知热 知冷知熱 zhī lěng zhī rè to know whether others are cold or hot (idiom) / to be very considerate
问客杀鸡 問客殺雞 wèn kè shā jī lit. asking guests whether or not to butcher a chicken for them (idiom) / fig. hypocritical show of affection (or hospitality)
不管白猫黑猫，捉住老鼠就是好猫 不管白貓黑貓，捉住老鼠就是好貓 bù guǎn bái māo hēi māo , zhuō zhù lǎo shǔ jiù shì hǎo māo it doesn't matter whether a cat is white or black / as long as it catches mice it's a good cat (variant of a Sichuanese saying used in a speech by Deng Xiaoping 鄧小平|邓小平[Deng4 Xiao3 ping2] in 1962, usually associated with his economic reforms starting in 1978, in which pragmatism was favored over ideological purity)
是骡子是马，拉出来遛遛 是騾子是馬，拉出來遛遛 shì luó zi shì mǎ , lā chū lai liù liu lit. to see whether it's a mule or a horse, take it out for a walk (idiom) / fig. the proof of the pudding is in the eating / to show what one is made of / see 是騾子是馬，牽出來遛遛|是骡子是马，牵出来遛遛[shi4 luo2 zi5 shi4 ma3 , qian1 chu1 lai5 liu4 liu5]
是骡子是马，牵出来遛遛 是騾子是馬，牽出來遛遛 shì luó zi shì mǎ , qiān chū lai liù liu lit. to see whether it's a mule or a horse, take it out for a walk (idiom) / fig. the proof of the pudding is in the eating / to show what one is made of
也好 yě hǎo part. that's fine / may as well / (reduplicated) regardless of whether ... or ... syn
皇帝女儿不愁嫁 皇帝女兒不愁嫁 huáng dì nǚ ér bù chóu jià lit. the emperor's daughter does not worry about whether she will be able to marry (idiom) / fig. highly sought after
背着抱着一般重 bēi zhe bào zhe yī bān zhòng lit. whether one carries it on one's back or in one's arms, it's equally heavy (idiom) / fig. one can't avoid the burden
率性 shuài xìng to act naturally, authentically and spontaneously (whether seen as admirable – "bold" – or problematic – "impulsive")
猜枚行令 cāi méi xíng lìng (idiom) Originally, to guess whether the number of small objects held in a hand was odd or even, or to guess their number / today, it can refer to playing a drinking game such as morra.
词不逮理 cí bù dài lǐ (idiom) Refers to words and phrases that fail to express an author's thoughts and feelings fully or accurately, whether in speech or writing.
鼎鱼幕燕 dǐng yú mù yàn (idiom) To be in an extremely dangerous situation, whether referring to a person or a thing.
口含天宪 口含天憲 kǒu hán tiān xiàn (idiom) To have the court’s laws in one’s mouth. It describes such authority that one’s words become law and can decide whether others live or die.
去住两难 去住兩難 qù zhù liǎng nán (idiom) To be unable to decide whether to leave or stay, and thus find oneself in a difficult dilemma.
一箭上垛 yī jiàn shàng duò (idiom) To succeed at the first attempt, whether in speech or in action.
疑信参半 yí xìn cān bàn (idiom) To be half-convinced and half-doubtful, unsure whether to accept something as true.
隐晦曲折 yǐn huì qū zhé (idiom) To express an idea in an obscure, indirect, and roundabout manner, whether in writing or speech.
饔飧不继 yōng sūn bù jì (idiom) To have one meal without knowing whether there will be another. It describes extreme poverty and food insecurity.
有闻必录 yǒu wén bì lù (idiom) To record everything one hears, without checking whether the information is true or false.
妆嫫费黛 zhuāng mó fèi dài (idiom) To help someone without considering whether the help suits them, thereby wasting one’s effort.
综核名实 zōng hé míng shí (idiom) To assess comprehensively whether the names or reputations given to things correspond to their actual nature and results.
坐卧不安 zuò wò bù ān (idiom) To be unable to find rest whether sitting or lying down. It describes someone troubled by worry or fear. syn
一嚬一笑 yī pín yī xiào (idiom) It refers to facial expressions, whether showing displeasure or joy.
不以成败论英雄 bù yǐ chéng bài lùn yīng xióng (idiom) A person’s status as a hero cannot be judged solely by whether their undertaking succeeds or fails.
不可摸捉 bù kě mō zhuō (idiom) To be impossible to guess or assess, whether referring to a person or a thing.
不待蓍蔡 bù dài shī cài (idiom) There is no need to resort to divination to know whether the outcome will be favorable or not.
不知疼痒 bù zhī téng yǎng (idiom) Not to know whether something hurts or itches. Figuratively, to be insensitive and uncaring toward others.
不知虚实 不知虛實 bù zhī xū shí (idiom) Not knowing the actual situation, whether its aspects are real or uncertain. To lack knowledge of the facts and internal circumstances of a matter.
以溺自照 yǐ nì zì zhào (idiom) To look at oneself in one’s own urine to see whether one is up to the task.
修短随化 xiū duǎn suí huà (idiom) The length of a person’s life, whether long or short, depends on fate and the forces of nature. The expression emphasizes the inevitability of death.
俯仰异观 fǔ yǎng yì guān (idiom) With every movement, whether lowering or raising the head, the attitude changes. It describes a rapid succession of varied postures.
出何经典 chū hé jīng diǎn (idiom) It refers to not knowing which book a statement comes from or whether it has any basis.
刑无等级 刑無等級 xíng wú děng jí (idiom) To impose punishment without considering whether the offender is of high or low status.
半疑半信 bàn yí bàn xìn (idiom) To have some doubts while also placing some faith in something, being unable to decide whether it is true or false.
压卷之作 yā juàn zhī zuò (idiom) A work that surpasses all other works of the same kind and stands as the finest example, whether in poetry, prose, painting, or calligraphy. syn
原心定罪 yuán xīn dìng zuì (idiom) To examine a person’s underlying motives in order to determine whether they are guilty and, if so, how serious the offense is.
原情定罪 yuán qíng dìng zuì (idiom) To determine whether an offense was committed, and how serious it was, by examining the offender’s motives.
原情定过 原情定過 yuán qíng dìng guò (idiom) To examine a person’s motives in order to determine whether they committed an offense and, if so, how serious it was.
取舍两难 qǔ shě liǎng nán (idiom) It is difficult to decide whether to accept or reject something. Both options appear difficult.
口衔天宪 kǒu xián tiān xiàn (idiom) To describe someone whose word is the law and can determine whether others live or die. The expression criticizes arbitrary and unchecked power.
呼牛也可，呼马也可 hū niú yě kě，hū mǎ yě kě (idiom) Whether people call me an ox or a horse, I do not care. It describes someone who ignores others’ opinions and acts according to their own wishes.
呼马呼牛 hū mǎ hū niú (idiom) Whether people call me an ox or a horse, I do not care. It means letting others judge or praise one as they please without being concerned.
唯马首是瞻 wéi mǎ shǒu shì zhān (idiom) Originally, soldiers in battle watched their commander’s horse’s head to decide whether to advance or retreat.
天人胜处 天人勝處 tiān rén shèng chù (idiom) Describes an excellent situation, whether in heaven or in the human world. It refers to the best possible circumstances.
夷险一致 yí xiǎn yī zhì (idiom) To remain constant in one's principles and integrity, whether in prosperity or adversity.
嫁鸡逐鸡，嫁犬逐犬 jià jī zhú jī，jià quǎn zhú quǎn (idiom) Describes a woman who follows her husband for life after marriage, whether he is good or bad.
寤寐不宁 wù mèi bù níng (idiom) Whether awake or asleep, one has no peace day or night. It describes intense panic and anxiety.
巨细无遗 jù xì wú yí (idiom) Nothing is left out, whether important or trivial. The expression emphasizes the thorough and exhaustive nature of an account, description, or examination.
得寸得尺 dé cùn dé chǐ (idiom) To gain something, whether a little or a lot. It can also mean taking as much as one is able to obtain.
德輶如羽 dé yóu rú yǔ (idiom) It means that practicing benevolence is not difficult / what matters is whether one has the determination to do so.
无间冬夏 wú jiān dōng xià (idiom) Whether in winter or summer / throughout the year without interruption.
日落千丈 rì luò qiān zhàng (idiom) Describes a situation that deteriorates sharply, whether in terms of reputation, status, or financial condition.
未卜生死 wèi bǔ shēng sǐ (idiom) It is impossible to know whether someone is alive or dead.
枉直随形 枉直隨形 wǎng zhí suí xíng (idiom) It indicates that whether a shadow is straight or crooked depends on the shape of the object.
死生未卜 sǐ shēng wèi bǔ (idiom) To have no way of knowing whether someone is alive or dead. It is said of a person from whom no news has been received.
游居有常 yóu jū yǒu cháng (idiom) To follow ordinary rules whether one is away from home or at home. It emphasizes regular conduct in accordance with accepted norms.
烈火辨玉 liè huǒ biàn yù (idiom) A raging fire reveals whether jade is genuine or of good quality. Figuratively, critical moments reveal a person’s integrity and moral character.
狂花病叶 kuáng huā bìng yè (idiom) A drunken person, whether noisy and rowdy or asleep under the influence of alcohol.
狮子搏象兔，皆用全力 shī zi bó xiàng tù，jiē yòng quán lì (idiom) A lion uses all its strength whether it fights an elephant or a rabbit.
狮虎当道 shī hǔ dāng dào (idiom) Dangerous obstacles, whether real or exaggerated, invoked as an excuse for inaction.
生杀之权 生殺之權 shēng shā zhī quán (idiom) The power to decide whether others live or die. It denotes extremely extensive authority.
生死未卜 shēng sǐ wèi bǔ (idiom) It is still unknown whether someone is alive or dead / the outcome remains uncertain.
细大无遗 細大無遺 xì dà wú yí (idiom) To leave nothing aside, whether important or trivial / to encompass everything without making a selection.
继继存存 繼繼存存 jì jì cún cún (idiom) To follow and continue one after another without interruption, whether referring to people or things.
考名责实 kǎo míng zé shí (idiom) To examine whether a name or designation corresponds to the actual facts.
背前面后 bèi qián miàn hòu (idiom) Whether to someone’s face or behind their back / in public as well as in private.
行则思义 行則思義 xíng zé sī yì (idiom) When taking action, one should consider whether it accords with justice and righteousness.
行思坐忆 xíng sī zuò yì (idiom) To think or reminisce constantly, whether one is walking or sitting.
行思坐筹 xíng sī zuò chóu (idiom) It describes thinking or reminiscing constantly, whether walking or sitting. In this context, it is equivalent to “thinking about something day and night.”
The four tones The four tones of Mandarin Pitch over time: tone 1 high and level (red), tone 2 rising (orange), tone 3 falling then rising (green), tone 4 falling (blue). tone 1 tone 2 tone 3 tone 4 Time Pitch

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