是

shì

Pinyin
shì
Pinyin (Plain)
shi
Tone
4
Strokes
9
Radical
日
Readings
shìshiTone: 4to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)Order: 0Primary
Stroke Order Code
Speed
Stroke Order Data
["M 386 759 Q 374 763 348 769 Q 336 772 333 767 Q 326 760 335 744 Q 368 674 385 561 Q 389 527 408 503 Q 426 481 431 497 Q 434 507 435 522 L 434 546 Q 433 564 420 624 L 416 648 Q 406 706 403 728 C 399 755 399 755 386 759 Z", "M 580 537 Q 598 513 613 505 Q 623 498 638 519 Q 653 544 681 679 Q 690 709 712 733 Q 725 745 714 758 Q 699 774 658 800 Q 643 809 572 793 Q 566 793 461 773 Q 421 766 386 759 C 357 753 374 720 403 728 Q 523 761 592 761 Q 610 764 619 755 Q 632 740 629 724 Q 608 585 591 567 C 577 541 577 541 580 537 Z", "M 420 624 Q 424 623 430 624 Q 506 637 563 645 Q 585 649 577 661 Q 567 674 543 678 Q 513 681 416 648 C 388 638 390 627 420 624 Z", "M 435 522 Q 438 521 447 522 Q 522 532 580 537 C 610 540 617 553 591 567 Q 585 571 577 572 Q 547 576 434 546 C 405 538 405 525 435 522 Z", "M 525 418 Q 639 433 804 433 Q 882 433 888 443 Q 892 455 876 469 Q 816 514 753 494 Q 555 455 149 403 Q 127 400 143 383 Q 176 353 215 363 Q 344 399 477 413 L 525 418 Z", "M 530 135 Q 534 204 538 262 L 540 287 Q 541 339 547 372 Q 554 393 525 418 C 503 438 464 440 477 413 Q 489 398 489 304 Q 488 253 487 160 C 487 130 528 105 530 135 Z", "M 538 262 Q 547 258 563 260 Q 648 276 710 287 Q 737 293 726 307 Q 713 323 683 327 Q 653 330 540 287 C 512 276 509 271 538 262 Z", "M 354 250 Q 375 292 386 301 Q 393 307 391 317 Q 388 327 375 337 Q 342 367 309 357 Q 300 354 304 342 Q 322 282 228 146 Q 224 142 220 136 Q 192 99 120 24 Q 113 18 123 16 Q 177 26 272 130 Q 278 140 287 149 Q 308 177 337 222 L 354 250 Z", "M 337 222 Q 521 68 686 -15 Q 711 -28 771 -16 Q 822 -4 875 9 Q 909 19 916 30 Q 922 42 902 42 Q 823 52 775 53 Q 649 62 532 134 Q 531 135 530 135 L 487 160 Q 423 200 354 250 C 330 268 314 241 337 222 Z"]
Meaning
In modern Chinese, “是” is most commonly used as the verb “to be,” linking a subject to what it is (for example, “我是学生” = “I am a student”). It can also be used for emphasis or confirmation in conversation, similar to saying “indeed” or “yes, it is so.”
Metadata
Locale: en
Cached At: 3/24/2026, 1:47:26 PM

Usage

The character **是 (shì)** is most commonly learned as the basic verb **“to be”** in Mandarin, used to link a subject with a **noun** or **noun phrase**. For example, *我是老师* (“I am a teacher”) and *这是我的手机* (“This is my phone”). In beginner materials it’s often introduced very early as a core grammar word for making simple identification sentences and answering *“yes/no”* questions: *你是学生吗？* – *是，我是学生* (“Are you a student?” – “Yes, I am a student”). In this sense, it does **not** link with adjectives (you don’t say *我是高* for “I am tall”; you use *很* or another structure instead), which is a common point emphasized in textbooks. Learners also quickly see **是** used for **emphasis or contrast**, beyond the simple “to be” meaning. In patterns like *A是A，但是…* (e.g. *好是好，但是太贵了* – “It is good, but it’s too expensive”), it highlights agreement while setting up a **“but”** statement. In answering questions, **是** alone can function as an affirmative response, similar to “yes” in certain contexts, especially with **是/不是** questions. Over time, learners encounter **是** in fixed phrases (like *是不是* for “whether or not; right?”) and in more flexible positions within a sentence, but classroom and resource examples overwhelmingly center on its role as the **copular verb “to be”** and as a **marker of confirmation or contrast**.

Handwriting Notes

是 is usually written as a fairly wide, block-like character, with a clear “eye” component (目) in the middle and a short horizontal stroke at the top. In everyday handwriting, lines tend to be more curved and connected than in printed fonts: the top horizontal may be short and slanted, inner strokes can be slightly compressed, and the bottom part may look like a looser hook or curve rather than a rigid right angle. Some writers simplify the internal structure, making the middle look almost like two quick horizontal flicks inside a rectangle, or compress the whole character so it looks more like a compact rectangle than the more evenly proportioned printed form. Because of these natural variations in stroke angle, length, and connectedness, AI handwriting recognition systems are commonly used in apps and devices to recognize 是 and distinguish it from visually similar characters written in many different personal styles.

Description

是 (shì) is a very common verb in Mandarin meaning “to be,” used mainly to link a subject with a noun or noun phrase (e.g., 他是老师 “He is a teacher”). It is not usually used before adjectives, which often function as verbs on their own in Chinese (e.g., 他很高 “He is tall”).

Common Words

  • 是shi4to be (followed by substantives only)
  • 不是bu4 shi4no
  • 或是huo4 shi4or
  • 若是ruo4 shi4if
  • 如是ru2 shi4thus

Example Sentences

我喜欢是。

wo3 xi3 huan5 shi4

I like to be (followed by substantives only).

不是很常见。

bu4 shi4 hen3 chang2 jian4

不是 is very common.

我们在学习或是。

wo3 men5 zai4 xue2 xi2 huo4 shi4

We are learning or.

这个若是很重要。

zhe4 ge5 ruo4 shi4 hen3 zhong4 yao4

This if is important.

请写一下“是”。

qing3 xie3 yi1 xia4 shi4

Please write '是'.

Try writing this character