你没事吧？
nǐ méishì ba?
The English phrase "are you alright?" is translated into Chinese as 你没事吧？ (nǐ méishì ba?)
你没事吧？ is an informal expression used to ask if someone is okay, typically after a potential accident or problem has occurred.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 你 (you), 没事 (to have no matter or no problem) and 吧 (a particle indicating a suggestion or a question based on an assumption).
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 吧 at the end of 你没事吧？ softens the question, implying the speaker suspects the person might actually be okay but is checking to be sure.
How do you pronounce it?
nǐ méishì ba?
Did you know?
- The phrase is often used in a way that mirrors the English 'Are you kidding me?' If someone says something outrageous, you can say 你没事吧？ to imply they have lost their mind or are acting irrationally.
- The term 事 (shì) in 没事 literally translates to 'matter', 'business', or 'affair'. When you ask if someone is alright, you are literally asking if they 'have no matters' or 'have no business' currently bothering them.
- If a person is actually hurt, an English speaker might say 'Are you okay?', but a Chinese speaker might instead ask 哪里不舒服? which means 'Where do you feel uncomfortable?'
Examples in context
- 刚才撞到你了，你没事吧？Gāngcái zhuàng dào nǐ le, nǐ méishì ba?I just bumped into you, are you alright?
- 看你脸色不好，你没事吧？Kàn nǐ liǎnsè bù hǎo, nǐ méishì ba?You look pale, are you alright?
Example conversation
志强 accidentally tripped on the sidewalk in front of 晓雯.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你没事吧？Nǐ méishì ba?Are you alright?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我没事，谢谢。Wǒ méishì, xièxiè.I am okay, thank you.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen没受伤吧？Méi shòushāng ba?You aren't hurt, are you?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没有，我只是没站稳。Méiyǒu, wǒ zhǐshì méi zhàn wěn.No, I just lost my balance.
