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 word for 'yes' that works in every situation. Instead, you must choose a word based on what you are affirming. You use 是 to confirm an identity or a fact (like 'to be'), while 对 is used to indicate that a statement is correct or accurate. If you are agreeing to a suggestion or a request, you use 好 to mean 'okay'.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the type of agreement: 是 confirms an identity or a fact. 对 signifies that something is correct. And 好 expresses agreement to a proposal or request.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more polite and formal way to say 'yes', you can use 是的. In casual, conversational settings, the particle 啊 is often appended to the end of words to soften the tone and make the affirmation sound more natural. For very informal acknowledgment, one might use 嗯 to mean 'uh-huh'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, you may hear 好 (hó) or 是 (sī / sǐ). In certain regions, particularly in Northern China, the word 行 is an informal way to say 'yes' meaning 'alright' or 'OK'. In Southern China and Taiwan, 好 is also a common informal affirmative response.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 的 to 是 creates the form 是的, which is a common way to say 'yes' more emphatically or formally.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation for 是 is shì.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using a single word for 'yes' in all contexts. Depending on whether you are confirming an identity, a fact or a request, you must choose the specific appropriate term.
When do people say it?
When people want to encourage someone, they often say 加油, which means 'Keep up the good work!'
Did you know?
Examples in context
- 是的，當然。Yes, of course.Tatoeba #712982 by egg0073, translation #30530 by Zifre
- 短回答是是。The short answer is yes.Tatoeba #9953376 by GlossaMatik, translation #4530015 by CK
- 请说”好“！Please say ‘yes’!Tatoeba #10266003 by GlossaMatik, translation #408901 by FeuDRenais
- 80 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are confirming a meeting time.
- 俊杰 Junjie明天早上十點可以嗎？míngtiān zǎoshang shí diǎn kěyǐ ma?Is ten tomorrow morning okay?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是，沒問題。shì, méi wèntí.Yes, no problem.
- 俊杰 Junjie那你在會議室等我。nà nǐ zài huìyìshì děng wǒ.Then wait for me in the meeting room.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，俊杰。hǎo de, jùnjié.Okay, Junjie.
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.
