HSK Guide

是 shì — to be (A is B)

shì (fourth tone, falling)shi4

to be (A is B)

HSK 1· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 1· Three-band, nine-level standardverb
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Meanings

  1. to be (A is B)

    The linking verb that identifies one noun with another: 我是学生 "I am a student". It joins nouns only — Chinese adjectives are complete predicates on their own and do not take 是.

    verb

  2. yes, that’s right

    verb

    Chinese has no all-purpose "yes": you answer a 是 question by repeating the verb, 是 or 不是.

Character breakdown

  • 是
    shì (fourth tone, falling)

    to be (am, is, are); yes, that is so; correct, right

    9 strokes⿱日正Radical 日

Example sentences

  • 他是我的朋友。Tā (first tone, high and level) shì (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) péngyou. (second tone, rising)···

    He’s a friend of mine.

  • 这不是我的东西。這不是我的東西。Zhè (fourth tone, falling) bú (second tone, rising) shì (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) de (neutral tone) dōngxi. (first tone, high and level)···

    This isn’t mine.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite我是高兴。

    Correct我很高兴。

    是 links two nouns. An adjective such as 高兴 is already the predicate, so it takes a degree adverb (很, 太, 不) and never 是.

  • Not quite今天是很热。

    Correct今天很热。

    The same rule applies to weather and states: 热, 大, 小, 好 are all adjectives, so 是 must be dropped.

Similar words

Words containing 是