Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | /ʂɻ̩⁵¹/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /sɹ̩²¹³/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
|
| 對 / 对 | duì | ||
| 啊 | à | /ˀä⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /a⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Chengdu, Sinological IPA) |
colloquial |
| 好 | hó | /ho⁵⁵⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, Kinmen, Lukang, Taipei, Yilan, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Magong, Hsinchu) /hɤ⁵³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, Zhangpu, Kinmen, Lukang, Taipei, Yilan, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Philippines, Sinological IPA, Sanxia, Magong, Hsinchu) |
Hokkien |
| 是 | sī / sǐ | /si³³/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kinmen, Taichung, Penang, Sinological IPA, Taipei, Kaohsiung, General Taiwanese, Sanxia, Hsinchu) /si²¹/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kinmen, Taichung, Penang, Sinological IPA, General Taiwanese, Sanxia, Hsinchu) |
Hokkien |
In Chinese, there is no single universal word for 'yes'. The choice depends on whether you are confirming a fact, agreeing to a request or stating that something is correct. For example, 是 is used to confirm identity or facts, while 好 is used to agree to suggestions or requests. Related nouns include 同意, meaning an agreement or acceptance and 同意票, which refers to a vote of support.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on what is being affirmed. 是 is used to confirm a fact or identity (meaning 'it is so'). In contrast, 对 is used specifically to mean 'correct' or 'right' when responding to a statement of fact. 好 is used to express agreement to a suggestion or a request, similar to saying 'okay' or 'fine'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations, 是的 is a straightforward and common way to say 'yes'. In polite contexts, 可以 can be used to agree with a request or statement, similar to 'yes' or 'okay'. The expression 好啊 is informal and carries a friendly, enthusiastic tone.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The forms 好 and 是 are used in Hokkien.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To create a more formal or emphatic 'yes' in Mandarin, you can add the particle 的 to 是 to form 是的. In colloquial speech, the particle 啊 is often appended to the end of affirmative answers to soften the tone and make the response sound more natural or enthusiastic.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 是 is shì.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 是 as a universal 'yes' for all questions. However, in Chinese, you must often repeat the specific verb used in the question to answer affirmatively.
Did you know?
- One theory suggests the character 對 was modified by Emperor Wen of Han to include the symbol for 'soldier' 士 because he felt official replies were often untruthful lip service.
Examples in context
- 是的，當然。Yes, of course.This sentence shows how to use 是 in a standard affirmative response.Tatoeba #712982 by egg0073, translation #30530 by Zifre
- 短回答是是。The short answer is yes.This sentence uses 是 to provide a short answer.Tatoeba #9953376 by GlossaMatik, translation #4530015 by CK
- 请说”好“！Please say ‘yes’!This sentence demonstrates the use of 好 when asking for agreement.Tatoeba #10266003 by GlossaMatik, translation #408901 by FeuDRenais
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Haoran asks Yuting if she is ready to go.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，妳準備好了嗎？Yǔtíng, nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?Yuting, are you ready?
- 雨婷 Yuting是，我準備好了。Shì, wǒ zhǔnbèi hǎo le.Yes, I am ready.
- 浩然 Haoran那我們現在出發吧。Nà wǒmen xiànzài chūfā ba.Then let's head out now.
- 雨婷 Yuting好的，走吧。Hǎo de, zǒu ba.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries 是, 啊, 好, 是, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 啊, 好, 對, 是, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
