Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== shì: 是 - To be, Is, Am, Are, Yes ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 是, shì, Chinese verb to be, is am are in Chinese, how to use shi, yes in Chinese, shì bu shì, 不是, Chinese grammar, HSK 1, learn Chinese to be, linking verb Chinese * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **是 (shì)**, the equivalent of the English verb "to be" (is, am, are). This page provides a comprehensive guide for beginners on how to use **是** to link nouns, form questions like **是不是 (shì bu shì)**, and say "yes." We'll cover its core grammar, common mistakes (like using it with adjectives), and provide numerous example sentences to help you master this fundamental HSK 1 character. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shì * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** To be (is, am, are); to exist; yes, that's right. * **In a Nutshell:** **是 (shì)** is one of the first and most important verbs you'll learn in Chinese. Its primary job is to connect two nouns, establishing an identity or equality, like saying "He **is** a doctor." It acts as a simple equals sign (=). It's also a straightforward way to affirm something or answer "yes" to a question. Crucially, unlike in English, **是** is almost never used before an adjective; you don't say "I **am** happy," you say "I **very** happy." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **是 (shì):** The character is a combination of **日 (rì)** on top, meaning "sun," and **正 (zhèng)** on the bottom, meaning "correct" or "straight." You can think of it as "that which is correct under the sun." This original meaning of "correctness" or "this" naturally evolved into its modern use for affirming a statement ("that is correct" -> "yes") and defining an identity ("this **is** that"). ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Categorization over State of Being:** The use of **是 (shì)** reveals a fundamental difference between Chinese and English grammar. English uses the verb "to be" for both identity ("She **is** a teacher") and description ("She **is** tall"). Chinese splits these functions. **是** is reserved almost exclusively for identity and categorization (Noun A **is** Noun B). * **Contrast with English "to be":** For descriptions, Chinese uses adverbs, most commonly **很 (hěn)**, which literally means "very." A beginner might translate "I am happy" as "我**是**高兴 (wǒ shì gāoxìng)," which is incorrect. The correct, natural phrasing is "我**很**高兴 (wǒ hěn gāoxìng)," which feels like "I very happy." This isn't about being *very* happy; **很** simply fills the grammatical void left by the absence of **是** before an adjective. This reflects a linguistic tendency to state a description as a complete fact rather than linking the subject to a state of being with a verb. * **Direct Affirmation:** While English has many ways to agree ("yep," "sure," "that's right"), **是 (shì)** or **是的 (shì de)** is a very direct and clear "yes." It confirms the truth of a statement. However, in conversation, it's often more natural to affirm by repeating the verb from the question, a nuance that distinguishes a fluent speaker. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * **As the Verb "to be" (Noun = Noun):** This is its most common use. The structure is simple: `Subject + 是 + Noun`. * e.g., 我**是**学生。(Wǒ **shì** xuéshēng.) - I **am** a student. * **To Say "Yes":** When asked a question that contains **是**, the simplest way to answer "yes" is to just say **是** or **是的 (shì de)**. * e.g., Q: 你**是**不是老师？ (Nǐ **shì** bu shì lǎoshī?) A: **是**。(**Shì**.) * **In A-not-A Questions (`是不是`):** This is an extremely common way to form a yes/no question. It literally means "is or is not?" * e.g., 他**是不是**你哥哥？(Tā **shì** bu **shì** nǐ gēge?) - **Is** he your older brother **or not**? * **For Emphasis (`是...的` construction):** The **是...的 (shì...de)** structure is used to emphasize details (like time, place, or manner) of a completed action. **是** is placed before the detail you want to stress. * e.g., 我**是**昨天来的。(Wǒ **shì** zuótiān lái de.) - I came **yesterday**. (Emphasizing *when* I came). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我**是**美国人。 * Pinyin: Wǒ **shì** Měiguó rén. * English: I **am** American. * Analysis: A classic `Subject + 是 + Noun` sentence structure, establishing identity. * **Example 2:** * 这不**是**我的书。 * Pinyin: Zhè bú **shì** wǒ de shū. * English: This **is not** my book. * Analysis: Shows the negative form, **不是 (bú shì)**. Note the tone change of 不 (bù) to (bú) when it comes before a 4th tone character like 是 (shì). * **Example 3:** * A: 他**是**医生吗？ (Tā **shì** yīshēng ma?) * B: **是的**，他**是**医生。(**Shì de**, tā **shì** yīshēng.) * Pinyin: A: Tā **shì** yīshēng ma? B: **Shì de**, tā **shì** yīshēng. * English: A: Is he a doctor? B: **Yes**, he **is** a doctor. * Analysis: Demonstrates using **是** in a `吗 (ma)` question and answering with the common affirmative phrase **是的 (shì de)**. * **Example 4:** * 你**是不是**喜欢喝咖啡？ * Pinyin: Nǐ **shì** bu **shì** xǐhuān hē kāfēi? * English: Do you like to drink coffee? (Literally: Is it that you like to drink coffee?) * Analysis: Here, **是不是** is used to turn a statement ("You like to drink coffee") into a question. It adds a sense of seeking confirmation. * **Example 5:** * 重要的不**是**结果，**是**过程。 * Pinyin: Zhòngyào de bú **shì** jiéguǒ, **shì** guòchéng. * English: The important thing **is not** the result, **it's** the process. * Analysis: A more complex sentence showing how **是** can be used to contrast two ideas or clarify a point. * **Example 6:** * 我**是**坐飞机来的。 * Pinyin: Wǒ **shì** zuò fēijī lái de. * English: I came by plane. * Analysis: This is an example of the **是...的 (shì...de)** construction, emphasizing the *manner* in which the action was completed (by plane). * **Example 7:** * A: 这是你的吗？ (Zhè shì nǐ de ma?) * B: **是**。 (**Shì**.) * Pinyin: A: Zhè shì nǐ de ma? B: **Shì**. * English: A: Is this yours? B: **Yes**. * Analysis: A simple, direct, and common use of **是** as a one-word affirmative answer. * **Example 8:** * 唯一的解释就**是**他忘了。 * Pinyin: Wéiyī de jiěshì jiù **shì** tā wàng le. * English: The only explanation **is** that he forgot. * Analysis: Shows **是** being used to link a noun phrase ("the only explanation") to an entire clause ("he forgot"). * **Example 9:** * 无论发生什么，我永远都**是**你的朋友。 * Pinyin: Wúlùn fāshēng shénme, wǒ yǒngyuǎn dōu **shì** nǐ de péngyǒu. * English: No matter what happens, I will always **be** your friend. * Analysis: This sentence demonstrates a more emotional and emphatic use of **是**, providing a strong statement of identity and relationship. * **Example 10:** * 他说得好像**是**真的一样。 * Pinyin: Tā shuō de hǎoxiàng **shì** zhēn de yīyàng. * English: He spoke as if it **were** real. * Analysis: This example uses **是** within the structure `好像...是...一样 (hǎoxiàng...shì...yīyàng)`, meaning "seems as if..." This shows a more advanced, figurative use. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **BIG MISTAKE: Using `是` with Adjectives.** This is the most common error for English speakers. You cannot say "我**是**累 (wǒ shì lèi)" for "I am tired." * **Incorrect:** 他**是**高。(Tā **shì** gāo.) * **Correct:** 他**很**高。(Tā **hěn** gāo.) - He is tall. (Literally: He very tall.) * **Reason:** In Chinese, adjectives can function as predicates on their own. The adverb **很 (hěn)** is added for balance and fluency, not necessarily for emphasis. * **"Yes" is not always `是`.** While **是** means "yes," it's specifically used to confirm a fact, usually in response to a question that contains **是**. If someone asks you a question with a different verb, you should answer by repeating that verb. * **Question:** 你想去吗？(Nǐ xiǎng qù ma?) - Do you want to go? * **Correct Answer:** 想 (xiǎng) - [I] want to. * **Awkward Answer:** 是 (shì) - Yes. (This is understandable but unnatural). * **`是` (to be) vs. `在` (to be at).** Do not use **是** for location. Use **在 (zài)** to say something "is at/in/on" a place. * **Incorrect:** 书**是**桌子上。(Shū **shì** zhuōzi shàng.) * **Correct:** 书**在**桌子上。(Shū **zài** zhuōzi shàng.) - The book **is on** the table. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[不是]] (bú shì) - The direct negative of **是**, meaning "is not," "am not," or "are not." * [[是不是]] (shì bu shì) - A common question form, meaning "is it or not?" Used to ask for confirmation. * [[是的]] (shì de) - A polite and common way to say "yes," often used in response to a question. Slightly more formal than just **是**. * [[很]] (hěn) - The adverb "very," which is grammatically necessary when linking a subject to an adjective where English would use "is/am/are." * [[在]] (zài) - The verb "to be at/in/on." Used for location instead of **是**. * [[有]] (yǒu) - The verb "to have," which is used for existence in the "there is/are" pattern (e.g., `这里**有**一个人` - There **is** a person here). * [[对]] (duì) - Means "correct" or "right." Often used to agree with an opinion or statement, similar to saying "That's right." * [[等于]] (děngyú) - "To equal." The mathematical and logical equivalent of **是**. You use this in equations (2+2**等于**4), not in general sentences.