是
HSK 1- Other
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Subject是Object
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The verb 是 is used to affirm that thing A is thing B, equivalent to "is/are/am" in English.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The verb 是 (shì) is the most basic way to say "A is B," used to introduce, confirm, or define. It links two nouns or noun phrases together.
The negative of 是 is 不是 (bú shì), meaning "is not."
Important note: do not use 是 before an adjective. To say "I am well," you say 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo), not 我是好. 是 is used only to connect two equivalent things (noun = noun), not to describe (noun + adjective).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我是学生。繁: 我是學生。Wǒ shì xuésheng.
I am a student.
- 他是医生。繁: 他是醫生。Tā shì yīshēng.
He is a doctor.
- 这是我的书。繁: 這是我的書。Zhè shì wǒ de shū.
This is my book.
- 那不是苹果。繁: 那不是蘋果。Nà bú shì píngguǒ.
That is not an apple.
- 今天是星期一。Jīntiān shì xīngqīyī.
Today is Monday.