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How to Say ‘Are you tired?’ in Simplified Chinese

你累不累？

nǐ lèi bù lèi

[nee lay boo lay]

💬 Usage Tip: Say the word, then 不 plus the word again, to ask a yes-no question: 你忙不忙 "Are you busy?". The middle 不 is said lightly.

Phrase Breakdown

你累

nǐ lèi

you tired

你 (nǐ, you) + 累 (lèi, tired). 累 is a sharp falling fourth tone.

Example

你累吗？

Are you tired?

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.

Example

如果对方和你年纪差不多，可以说“认识你”。

If the other person is about your age, you can say “nice to meet you” with 你.

累

lèi

[lay]

tired

The second 累 repeats the adjective in the A-not-A pattern, creating the meaning tired or not tired.

Example

我常用“累不累”关心家人的身体，这个“累”重复出现。

I often use “lèi bù lèi” to care about my family’s health; this “lèi” appears again in repetition.

不累？

bù lèi

or not tired?

Repeating 累 with 不 in between forms an 'A-not-A' question: 累不累, 'tired or not'. Before a fourth tone, 不 changes to bú, and in this pattern it is often said lightly.

Example

你忙不忙？

Are you busy (or not)?

Words in this phrase

不

bù

[boo]

not

不 is the basic negative word meaning 'not' or 'no.'

Example

我不是故意的。

I didn't do it on purpose.

累

lèi

[lay]

tired

The second 累 repeats the adjective in the A-not-A pattern, creating the meaning tired or not tired.

Example

我常用“累不累”关心家人的身体，这个“累”重复出现。

I often use “lèi bù lèi” to care about my family’s health; this “lèi” appears again in repetition.

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