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是(shì) — meaning, uses and examples

1. verb copula: to be (judgment or classification)

   他是老师。

   Tā shì lǎoshī.

   He is a teacher.

2. verb to be (existence)

   满地是水。

   Mǎn dì shì shuǐ.

   The floor is covered with water.

3. adverb focus adverb: highlights what follows, with a contrastive or corrective tone

   是我在网上给你买了一个礼物。

   Shì wǒ zài wǎngshàng gěi nǐ mǎi le yī ge lǐwù.

   It was I who bought you a gift online.

4. verb with sentence-final 的, forms the emphatic 是…的 pattern about a past event

   我们是去年认识的。

   Wǒmen shì qùnián rènshi de.

   It was last year that we met.

5. verb concessive: grants a premise before a contrasting clause

   他是很聪明，但不努力。

   Tā shì hěn cōngming, dàn bù nǔlì.

   He is indeed smart, but he does not work hard.

6. noun rightness; truth (noun)

   是非成败

   shìfēi chéngbài

   right and wrong, success and failure

7. particle yes; aye (acknowledging an order or instruction)

   是！我这就去办。

   Shì! Wǒ zhè jiù qù bàn.

   Yes! I will get right on it.

8. pronoun this (classical Chinese remnant, written style)