Chinese Equative Verbs

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 1
Grammar Point · HSK 1

是 shì — “to be”

是 shì is an equative verb. It links two nouns that refer to the same thing, like “I am a teacher” or “This is my book.”

是 shì — to be in Chinese

Think of 是 shì as an equals sign: A 是 shì B means A = B. It never changes form. The same 是 shì covers “am,” “is,” “are,” “was,” and “were,” and it’s always negated with 不 bù.

1Structure

A + 是 shì + B

Both A and B are nouns or noun phrases.

我wǒ是shì老师lǎoshī
I am a teacher.
他tā是shì我wǒ的de朋友péngyou
He is my friend.
这zhè是shì我wǒ的de书shū
This is my book.
我wǒ妈妈māma是shì医生yīshēng
My mom is a doctor.

A + 不是 bú shì + B

To say “is not,” put 不 in front of 是 shì. Because 是 shì is a fourth tone, 不 changes to bú here.

她tā不bú是shì中国人Zhōngguórén，是shì美国人Měiguórén
She is not Chinese, she is American.
我wǒ不bú是shì学生xuésheng
I am not a student.

Questions with 是 shì

Add 吗 ma at the end, or use the “是不是 shì bú shì” (yes-or-no) form.

你nǐ是shìTiffany吗ma？
Are you Tiffany?
他tā是shì不bú是shì你nǐ的de老师lǎoshī？
Is he your teacher?
📌 Answering “yes” or “no”

Chinese has no single word for “yes” or “no.” You answer by repeating the verb, so when the question uses 是 shì, the short answer is 是 shì (yes) or 不是 bú shì (no).

你nǐ是shì台湾人Táiwānrén吗ma？
A: Are you Taiwanese?
是shì，我wǒ是shì台湾人Táiwānrén
B: Yes, I am Taiwanese.
不bú是shì，我wǒ是shì日本人Rìběnrén
B: No, I am Japanese.

2Common Mistakes

❌ 我wǒ是shì很hěn累lèi
✅ 我wǒ很hěn累lèi
是 shì links nouns, not adjectives. With adjectives like “tired” or “busy,” use 很 hěn instead, not 是 shì.
❌ 我wǒ没méi是shì学生xuésheng
✅ 我wǒ不bú是shì学生xuésheng
是 shì is always negated with 不 bù, never with 没 méi.
❌ 他tā是shì在zài家jiā
✅ 他tā在zài家jiā
For “is at (a place),” use 在 zài alone. 是 shì does not go with location.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I am a student.
我wǒ是shì学生xuésheng。
👆 Tap to reveal
02He is not my older brother.
他tā不bú是shì我wǒ的de哥哥gēge。
👆 Tap to reveal
03Is she your mom?
她tā是shì你nǐ的de妈妈māma吗ma？
👆 Tap to reveal
04That is my cat.
那nà是shì我wǒ的de猫māo。
👆 Tap to reveal
05Are you Japanese or not?
你nǐ是shì不bú是shì日本人Rìběnrén？
👆 Tap to reveal
06I’m not a teacher, I’m a doctor.
我wǒ不bú是shì老师lǎoshī，我wǒ是shì医生yīshēng。
👆 Tap to reveal
07Today is Monday.
今天jīntiān是shì星期一xīngqīyī。
👆 Tap to reveal
08I’m very busy.
我wǒ很hěn忙máng。
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Related Grammar

→This & That — 这 zhè & 那 nà(HSK 1) →Name — 姓 xìng & 叫 jiào (HSK 1)

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