How to Say ‘You're not trying to sell me something, are you?’ in Simplified Chinese
你不会是来推销什么的吧？
nǐ bú huì shì lái tuī xiāo shén me de ba
[nee bú huì shir lie tuīxiāo shen-muh de ba]
💬 Usage Tip: Wrapping a sentence as 不会是…吧 turns it into "surely it's not…, right?", a half-joking suspicion. Try 你不会是喝醉了吧？ "You're not drunk, are you?"
🇨🇳 In China: Strangers who strike up chats in Chinese cities are sometimes salespeople, so this teasing reply is a common, playful test. Laugh it off and don't take offense.
Phrase Breakdown
你不会是
nǐ bú huì shì
you're not…, are you?
不会是 expresses a suspicious guess. 不 becomes second tone before 会: bú huì.
你不会是忘了吧？
You didn't forget, did you?
Words in this phrase
你
nǐ
[nee]
you
The informal or neutral word for “you,” suitable for peers or casual conversation.
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.
不会
bú huì
[bú huì]
it can't be; unlikely
Expresses that something is not likely to happen or be true.
他不会迟到的。
He won't be late.
是
shì
[shir]
to be
The verb “to be,” used to identify or describe a situation.
你是第一次来，所以我给你介绍一下。
Since it’s your first time here, I’ll introduce things to you.
来推销什么的吧？
lái tuī xiāo shén me de ba
here to sell something, right?
推销 means 'to promote or sell'. 什么的 means 'something like that'. 吧 turns it into a guessing question.
他是来推销保险的吧？
He's here to sell insurance, right?
Words in this phrase
来
lái
[lie]
to come
A verb meaning “to come,” often used when asking if someone has come to an event before.
你常来这样的行业活动吗？
Do you often come to these kinds of industry events?
推销
tuī xiāo
[tuīxiāo]
to sell; to promote
To try to sell products to people, often pushily.
他在街上推销手机。
He sells phones on the street.
什么
shén me
[shen-muh]
what; something
Used in questions to ask about things or actions.
你想做什么？
What do you want to do?
的
de
[de]
particle (and such; emphasis)
Sentence particle used after a phrase, like 'or something'.
他是来借钱什么的。
He came to borrow money or something.
吧
ba
[ba]
particle for guessing
Ending particle seeking confirmation of a guess.
你是学生吧？
You're a student, right?
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