是
shì/ʂɻ̩⁵¹/
In Chinese, 是 (shì) (shi) is used to express agreement or to confirm that something is true.
The word is used to confirm a fact or to link two nouns together. You can also create a more emphatic or formal way to say 'yes' or 'that is correct' by adding the particle 的 to the word, forming 是的.
Which one should you use?
Unlike the English verb 'to be', 是 is primarily used to link two nouns or to confirm a fact, rather than to describe qualities (for which one would use an adjective and the particle 很).
How does it change in a sentence?
The negative form of 是 is 不是, which means 'is not', 'am not' or 'are not'.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is shì. The IPA is /ʂɻ̩⁵¹/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 是 to link an adjective and a noun, such as saying 'He is happy' as 他是高兴. In Chinese, an adjective is used directly without 是.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 我是学生。I am a student.
- 这是我的名片。This is my business card.
- 他是位老师。He is a teacher.
- 这是一本好书。This is a good book.
- 明天我是不是去北京？Am I going to Beijing tomorrow?
- 他是我的老师。tā shì wǒ de lǎo shī.He is my teacher.
- 这是我的书。zhè shì wǒ de shū.This is my book.
- 那是真的吗？nà shì zhēn de ma?Is that true?
Example conversation
Two friends are confirming a meeting time.
- 浩然 Haoran我们明天十点见，对吗？wǒ men míng tiān shí diǎn jiàn, duì ma?We are meeting tomorrow at ten, right?
- 雨婷 Yuting是的，没错。shì de, méi cuò.Yes, that's right.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，你知道在哪个餐厅吗？yǔ tíng, nǐ zhī dào zài nǎ gè cān tīng ma?Yuting, do you know which restaurant?
- 雨婷 Yuting我知道，就是学校对面那家。wǒ zhī dào, jiù shì xué xiào duì miàn nà jiā.I know, it's the one opposite the school.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 是, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 是, CC BY-SA 4.0.
