是非 (shìfēi) · right and wrong

是非 (shìfēi) means “right and wrong; trouble; gossip”. It is written with 2 characters: 是 (to be) + 非 (not). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).

How 是非 is built

The characters

是 shì · to be

What 是 is made of

日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
  - 冂 — frame
  - 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
疋pǐ — foot shape

Origin hint: To speak 日 directly 疋 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

非 fēi · not

What 非 is made of

非 is not built from smaller parts; it is written with 8 strokes.

Origin hint: Two bird's wings opposed; two people back-to-back (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)

Example sentences

孩子要学会分清是非。Háizi yào xuéhuì fēnqīng shìfēi.Children must learn to tell right from wrong.

她不喜欢在背后说是非。Tā bù xǐhuan zài bèihòu shuō shìfēi.She doesn't like gossiping behind people's backs.

Questions about 是非

What does 是非 mean?

是非 (shìfēi) means “right and wrong; trouble; gossip”.

How do you pronounce 是非?

是非 is pronounced shìfēi.

Which HSK level is 是非?

是非 is in Old HSK 6.

Related words

Learn 是非 with its group

It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 167: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.

Open the group