A1 Expression Neutral

远不远

yuǎn bu yuǎn

Is it far?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} to ask if a destination is a long distance away.

  • Means: Is it far or not?
  • Used in: Asking for directions, planning trips, or checking travel time.
  • Don't confuse: Don't use '是' (shì) before '远' in this specific question structure.
Location + {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn}? = Clear travel plan

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple question. You use it to ask if a place is far. You put the place first, then {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn}. It is very easy to use!
The phrase {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} is an A-not-A question. It is used to ask about distance. You don't need '吗' because the structure itself is a question. It is very common in daily travel.
As an A-not-A construction, {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} provides a binary choice for the listener. It is more direct than using '吗'. It is frequently used in navigation and social planning to determine if walking or taking a vehicle is necessary.
The expression {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} exemplifies the pragmatic nature of Chinese interrogatives. By juxtaposing the positive and negative forms of the adjective 'far', the speaker creates a balanced inquiry. This is preferred in casual, consultative registers over more formal distance-measuring inquiries.
Linguistically, {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} is a polar question form. It functions by negating the predicate to create an exhaustive set of possibilities. This structure is highly efficient, avoiding the need for external interrogative markers. It is a staple of spoken Mandarin, reflecting a preference for concise, balanced syntax in social interaction.
The A-not-A interrogative {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn} serves as a primary example of Chinese morphological economy. By collapsing the query into a single lexical unit, the speaker achieves maximum communicative efficiency. This structure is deeply embedded in the cognitive framework of Mandarin, where binary opposition is a fundamental mechanism for information seeking.

Meaning

Asking if a place is a long distance away.

🌍

Cultural Background

People often use this to decide between walking or taking a taxi.

💡

No '吗'

Never use '吗' with this structure.

Meaning

Asking if a place is a long distance away.

💡

No '吗'

Never use '吗' with this structure.

Test Yourself

Complete the question.

去超市____？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn}

The correct structure is A-not-A.

🎉 Score: /1

Frequently Asked Questions

1 questions

No, use '久' (jiǔ) for time.

Related Phrases

🔗

{有多|yǒu duō}{远|yuǎn}

similar

How far is it?

Where to Use It

🚕

Taxi Ride

Passenger: 师傅，去外滩{远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn}？

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Far' (远) and 'Not Far' (不远) scale. You are asking which side of the scale the place is on.

Visual Association

Imagine a person standing at a crossroads looking at a map, pointing at a destination and shrugging.

Rhyme

远不远，看地图，走几步。

Story

Xiao Wang is lost. He sees a local. He points to the map and asks, 'Is it far?' The local smiles and says, 'Not far at all!'

Word Web

{远|yuǎn}{近|jìn}{距离|jùlí}{路|lù}{走|zǒu}{地方|dìfāng}

Challenge

Ask 3 people today if their home is far from their workplace.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Está lejos?

Chinese uses the A-not-A structure, while Spanish uses a simple interrogative.

French high

C'est loin ?

French uses intonation or 'est-ce que', Chinese uses the verb repetition.

German high

Ist es weit?

German uses verb-first word order for questions.

Japanese moderate

遠いですか？

Japanese uses the 'ka' particle, whereas Chinese uses the A-not-A structure.

Arabic moderate

هل هو بعيد؟

Arabic uses the 'hal' particle at the start.

Chinese high

{远|yuǎn}不{远|yuǎn}

None.

Korean moderate

멀어요?

Korean uses verb endings for questions.

Portuguese high

É longe?

Portuguese uses intonation.

Easily Confused

远不远 vs {远|yuǎn}吗

Learners add '吗' to A-not-A.

Don't use '吗' with A-not-A.

FAQ (1)

No, use '久' (jiǔ) for time.

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