Chinese verb · state · first needed at beginner level (A1)
是
shì
to be
Links two nouns: (wǒ shì xuésheng, I am a student). It is not used before adjectives ( (wǒ hěn máng), not 我是忙) and is always negated with (bù): (bú shì), never (méi).
Speed:
Basic
基本
Says who or what someone or something is, now or in general. Negative: (bú shì). A-not-A question: (shì bu shì).
| affirmative | 我是学生。Wǒ shì xuésheng. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不是老师。Wǒ bú shì lǎoshī. | |
| question | 你是中国人吗？Nǐ shì Zhōngguórén ma? |
Completed
了
了 at the end marks a new situation: someone is now, or no longer, something.
| affirmative | 我现在是大学生了。Wǒ xiànzài shì dàxuéshēng le. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 他已经不是老师了。Tā yǐjīng bú shì lǎoshī le. | |
| question | 你已经是大学生了吗？Nǐ yǐjīng shì dàxuéshēng le ma? |
Future and intention
要 / 会
(huì shì) predicts what someone or something will be, or must be.
| affirmative | 他会是一个好爸爸。Tā huì shì yí ge hǎo bàba. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 那不会是真的。Nà bú huì shì zhēn de. | |
| question | 明天会是晴天吗？Míngtiān huì shì qíngtiān ma? |
Past details
是…的
是…的 stresses when, where or how something already happened. can be left out in the affirmative, never in the negative.
| affirmative | 我是昨天来的。Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de. | |
|---|---|---|
| negative | 我不是坐飞机来的。Wǒ bú shì zuò fēijī lái de. | |
| question | 你是什么时候来的？Nǐ shì shénme shíhou lái de? |
Examples
- 这是我的朋友。Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou.This is my friend.
- 她是医生，不是护士。Tā shì yīshēng, bú shì hùshi.She's a doctor, not a nurse.
- 今天是星期六。Jīntiān shì xīngqīliù.Today is Saturday.