是 shì
is, "equal to"
是 shì translated as is but more specifically means equal to.
Can you recognize 是?
是 shì can be used with nouns to connote an equal to relationship. You can use 是 shì to say I am a Chinese person. That is an A = B relationship. But do not use 是 shì to say I am happy. That is not an A = B relationship. You do not equal happiness.
不是 bùshì is the negative of 是 shì.
不 bù is a negative particles, so 不是 bùshì means is not or does not equal.
| 普通话 | 拼音 | English |
| 我是學生 / 我是学生 | wǒ shì xuésheng | I am a student |
| 我不是美國人 / 我不是美国人 | wǒ bùshì měiguórén | I am not an American |
| | You are __ |
| | Are you __ ? |
| Ta shi shei? | S/he is who? |
| 這 是 __ | zhè shì __ | this is __ |
| na ge ren shi shei? | Who is this person? |
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很 hěn
is, very, "is indeed"
很 hěn links a subject and adjective. Sometimes, 很 hěn is translated as very, but it is a very weak form of very that is more accurately translated as is or is indeed. 很 hěn can translate as is, as can 是 shì. However, 很 hěn and 是 shì are not interchangeable; 是 shì cannot be used with an adjective. A subject and adjective are never alone together, except when making a contrast, or when using 嗎/吗 ma.
| 普通话 | 拼音 | English |
| 我高兴 | wo gaoxing | I am happiest/happier |
| 我很高兴 | wo hen gaoxing | I am happy |
| 你高兴嗎 / 你高兴吗 ? | ni gaoxing ma? | Are you happy? |
| 我漂亮，還是她漂亮 ? | wŏ piàoliang, háishì tā piàoliang? | who is prettiest, me or her? |
| 我漂亮 | wŏ piàoliang | I am prettiest/prettier |
| 我的朋友中文好,
我的中文不好 | wŏ de péngyou Zhōngwén hăo
wŏ de Zhōngwén bù hăo | My friend's Chinese is good;
my Chinese is not good. |
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得 dě
| subject | verb | object | verb | 得 | adjective |
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