The concept of "to be" in Mandarin Chinese differs significantly from English. While English uses various forms of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were) for multiple purposes, Mandarin Chinese primarily uses 是 (shì) for equative statements and often omits any verb when describing states or qualities. This lesson will explore the various ways Mandarin expresses the English concept of "to be."
Definition: In Mandarin Chinese, 是 (shì) is the primary verb meaning "to be" when connecting a subject with a noun or noun phrase. However, when connecting a subject with an adjective, Chinese typically omits any "to be" verb entirely.
FAQ Schema Q: What does "to be" mean in Mandarin Chinese? A: "To be" in Mandarin Chinese is primarily expressed by 是 (shì) when equating nouns, but is often omitted when describing qualities or states using adjectives.
How this topic word will be used: This lesson presents 15 varied examples demonstrating different uses of 是 and other constructions that correspond to English "to be," including cases where no verb is used.
Educational Schema Course: Mandarin Chinese Language Learning Level: Beginner Topic: Verb "to be" (是 and related constructions) Type: Reading comprehension and grammar lesson Method: Interlinear glossing with cultural context
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是 (shì) is used to connect nouns: "X is Y" where Y is a noun -
No verb is needed with adjectives: "她很高" (She [is] tall) -
是...的 construction emphasizes specific information -
Context determines when to use or omit "to be" equivalents -
Chinese conceptualizes states differently than English
2.1 我 (wǒ) I 是 (shì) am 老师 (lǎo-shī) teacher
2.2 她 (tā) she 很 (hěn) very 高兴 (gāo-xìng) happy
2.3 这 (zhè) this 是 (shì) is 我的 (wǒ-de) my 书 (shū) book
2.4 他们 (tā-men) they 都 (dōu) all 是 (shì) are 学生 (xué-shēng) students
2.5 今天 (jīn-tiān) today 天气 (tiān-qì) weather 很 (hěn) very 好 (hǎo) good
2.6 那个 (nà-ge) that 人 (rén) person 是 (shì) is 谁 (shéi) who
2.7 我 (wǒ) I 爸爸 (bà-ba) father 是 (shì) is 医生 (yī-shēng) doctor
2.8 这些 (zhè-xiē) these 苹果 (píng-guǒ) apples 很 (hěn) very 甜 (tián) sweet
2.9 你 (nǐ) you 是 (shì) are 不 (bù) not 是 (shì) are 中国人 (zhōng-guó-rén) Chinese-person
2.10 她 (tā) she 在 (zài) at 家 (jiā) home 里 (lǐ) inside
2.11 我们 (wǒ-men) we 的 (de) possessive 老师 (lǎo-shī) teacher 姓 (xìng) surname-is 王 (wáng) Wang
2.12 这 (zhè) this 不 (bù) not 是 (shì) is 我的 (wǒ-de) my 错 (cuò) mistake
2.13 他 (tā) he 是 (shì) is 昨天 (zuó-tiān) yesterday 来 (lái) come 的 (de) [emphasis particle]
2.14 北京 (běi-jīng) Beijing 是 (shì) is 中国 (zhōng-guó) China 的 (de) possessive 首都 (shǒu-dū) capital
2.15 学 (xué) study 中文 (zhōng-wén) Chinese 很 (hěn) very 有意思 (yǒu-yì-si) interesting
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2.1 我是老师。I am a teacher.
2.2 她很高兴。She is happy.
2.3 这是我的书。This is my book.
2.4 他们都是学生。They are all students.
2.5 今天天气很好。The weather is good today.
2.6 那个人是谁？Who is that person?
2.7 我爸爸是医生。My father is a doctor.
2.8 这些苹果很甜。These apples are sweet.
2.9 你是不是中国人？Are you Chinese?
2.10 她在家里。She is at home.
2.11 我们的老师姓王。Our teacher's surname is Wang.
2.12 这不是我的错。This is not my mistake.
2.13 他是昨天来的。He came yesterday. (It was yesterday that he came.)
2.14 北京是中国的首都。Beijing is the capital of China.
2.15 学中文很有意思。Studying Chinese is interesting.
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2.1 我是老师。
2.2 她很高兴。
2.3 这是我的书。
2.4 他们都是学生。
2.5 今天天气很好。
2.6 那个人是谁？
2.7 我爸爸是医生。
2.8 这些苹果很甜。
2.9 你是不是中国人？
2.10 她在家里。
2.11 我们的老师姓王。
2.12 这不是我的错。
2.13 他是昨天来的。
2.14 北京是中国的首都。
2.15 学中文很有意思。
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1. The Basic Rule of 是 (shì) 是 is used to link two nouns or noun phrases. The structure is: Subject + 是 + Noun/Noun Phrase Example: 我是学生 (I am a student)
2. Adjectives Do NOT Use 是 Unlike English, Chinese does not use 是 before adjectives. Instead, adjectives are often preceded by 很 (hěn, "very") which functions as a link rather than an intensifier. Correct: 她很漂亮 (She is beautiful) Incorrect: 她是漂亮
3. The 是...的 Construction This emphasizes specific information about when, where, how, or why something happened. Example: 他是昨天来的 (It was yesterday that he came)
4. Negative Forms To negate 是, use 不是 (bù shì) Example: 这不是我的书 (This is not my book)
5. Question Forms Add 吗 (ma) at the end: 你是老师吗？(Are you a teacher?) Use 是不是: 你是不是老师？(Are you a teacher or not?)
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Using 是 with adjectives Wrong: 他是高 (He is tall) Right: 他很高 (He is tall) -
Forgetting 很 with single adjectives Wrong: 天气好 Right: 天气很好 (The weather is good) -
Overusing 是 English speakers often insert 是 where Chinese doesn't need it -
Confusion with location For location, use 在 (zài), not 是 Right: 他在学校 (He is at school)
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Identify what follows "to be" in English -
If it's a noun → use 是 -
If it's an adjective → omit "to be" and add 很 -
If it's a location → use 在 -
If emphasizing when/where/how → use 是...的
Affirmative with nouns: Subject + 是 + Noun Negative with nouns: Subject + 不是 + Noun With adjectives: Subject + 很 + Adjective Location: Subject + 在 + Place Emphasis: Subject + 是 + Information + 的
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The Chinese concept of "being" differs fundamentally from Western philosophy. While English requires an explicit copula ("to be") in nearly all predicative statements, Chinese views states and qualities as inherent to the subject, not requiring a linking verb.
This linguistic difference reflects deeper cultural perspectives. Chinese thought often emphasizes the fluid, changing nature of reality rather than fixed states of being. The absence of "to be" with adjectives suggests qualities are seen as more dynamic and contextual rather than absolute.
The use of 很 (hěn) with adjectives, even when not meaning "very," serves to acknowledge this non-absolute nature of qualities. It softens assertions and allows for gradation and change.
In social contexts, the distinction matters. Saying someone 是医生 (is a doctor) identifies their profession as a defining characteristic, while saying someone 很聪明 (is intelligent) presents intelligence as a quality that can vary in degree and context.
Understanding these nuances helps English speakers appreciate not just the grammar but the worldview embedded in Mandarin Chinese structure.
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From "The Analects of Confucius" (论语 Lúnyǔ), Book 7, Chapter 8:
子 (zǐ) Master 曰 (yuē) said ： 不 (bù) not 愤 (fèn) frustrated 不 (bù) not 启 (qǐ) enlighten ， 不 (bù) not 悱 (fěi) struggling-to-articulate 不 (bù) not 发 (fā) inspire 。 举 (jǔ) raise 一 (yī) one 隅 (yú) corner 不 (bù) not 以 (yǐ) with 三 (sān) three 隅 (yú) corners 反 (fǎn) respond ， 则 (zé) then 不 (bù) not 复 (fù) repeat 也 (yě) [particle] 。
子曰：不愤不启，不悱不发。举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。
The Master said: "If a student is not eager, I do not enlighten him. If he is not struggling to express himself, I do not help him articulate. If I present one corner and he cannot come back with the other three corners, then I do not repeat the lesson."
子曰：不愤不启，不悱不发。举一隅不以三隅反，则不复也。
This passage demonstrates classical Chinese's even more economical use of "being" concepts. Note the complete absence of 是 or any copulative verb. The parallel structure 不X不Y creates conditional relationships without explicit "to be" constructions. This exemplifies how Chinese philosophy and pedagogy are encoded in grammatical structures that differ radically from English's reliance on forms of "to be."
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2.16 您好 (nín-hǎo) hello-polite ， 我 (wǒ) I 是 (shì) am 张 (zhāng) Zhang 经理 (jīng-lǐ) manager
2.17 这位 (zhè-wèi) this-person 是 (shì) is 我们 (wǒ-men) our 公司 (gōng-sī) company 的 (de) possessive 总裁 (zǒng-cái) president
2.18 我们 (wǒ-men) we 公司 (gōng-sī) company 是 (shì) is 做 (zuò) do 国际 (guó-jì) international 贸易 (mào-yì) trade 的 (de) [descriptive particle]
2.19 她 (tā) she 是 (shì) is 财务 (cái-wù) finance 部门 (bù-mén) department 的 (de) possessive 主管 (zhǔ-guǎn) director
2.20 我们 (wǒ-men) our 的 (de) possessive 办公室 (bàn-gōng-shì) office 在 (zài) at 二十 (èr-shí) twenty 楼 (lóu) floor
2.21 这个 (zhè-ge) this 项目 (xiàng-mù) project 很 (hěn) very 重要 (zhòng-yào) important
2.22 王 (wáng) Wang 先生 (xiān-shēng) Mr. 不 (bù) not 是 (shì) is 我们 (wǒ-men) our 的 (de) possessive 客户 (kè-hù) client
2.23 会议室 (huì-yì-shì) meeting-room 在 (zài) at 三楼 (sān-lóu) third-floor
2.24 您 (nín) you-polite 是 (shì) are 第一次 (dì-yī-cì) first-time 来 (lái) come 中国 (zhōng-guó) China 吗 (ma) [question particle]
2.25 我们 (wǒ-men) our 的 (de) possessive 产品 (chǎn-pǐn) products 质量 (zhì-liàng) quality 很 (hěn) very 好 (hǎo) good
2.26 他 (tā) he 是 (shì) is 技术 (jì-shù) technology 部 (bù) department 的 (de) possessive 工程师 (gōng-chéng-shī) engineer
2.27 这 (zhè) this 不 (bù) not 是 (shì) is 我们 (wǒ-men) our 的 (de) possessive 责任 (zé-rèn) responsibility
2.28 明天 (míng-tiān) tomorrow 的 (de) possessive 会议 (huì-yì) meeting 是 (shì) is 上午 (shàng-wǔ) morning 九点 (jiǔ-diǎn) nine-o'clock
2.29 她 (tā) she 的 (de) possessive 英文 (yīng-wén) English 很 (hěn) very 流利 (liú-lì) fluent
2.30 我们 (wǒ-men) we 是 (shì) are 合作 (hé-zuò) cooperation 伙伴 (huǒ-bàn) partners
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2.16 您好，我是张经理。Hello, I am Manager Zhang.
2.17 这位是我们公司的总裁。This is our company's president.
2.18 我们公司是做国际贸易的。Our company does international trade.
2.19 她是财务部门的主管。She is the director of the finance department.
2.20 我们的办公室在二十楼。Our office is on the twentieth floor.
2.21 这个项目很重要。This project is very important.
2.22 王先生不是我们的客户。Mr. Wang is not our client.
2.23 会议室在三楼。The meeting room is on the third floor.
2.24 您是第一次来中国吗？Is this your first time coming to China?
2.25 我们的产品质量很好。The quality of our products is very good.
2.26 他是技术部的工程师。He is an engineer in the technology department.
2.27 这不是我们的责任。This is not our responsibility.
2.28 明天的会议是上午九点。Tomorrow's meeting is at 9 AM.
2.29 她的英文很流利。Her English is very fluent.
2.30 我们是合作伙伴。We are cooperation partners.
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2.16 您好，我是张经理。
2.17 这位是我们公司的总裁。
2.18 我们公司是做国际贸易的。
2.19 她是财务部门的主管。
2.20 我们的办公室在二十楼。
2.21 这个项目很重要。
2.22 王先生不是我们的客户。
2.23 会议室在三楼。
2.24 您是第一次来中国吗？
2.25 我们的产品质量很好。
2.26 他是技术部的工程师。
2.27 这不是我们的责任。
2.28 明天的会议是上午九点。
2.29 她的英文很流利。
2.30 我们是合作伙伴。
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1. Formal Introductions In business contexts, 是 is essential for stating titles and positions: 我是 + Name + Title Example: 我是李经理 (I am Manager Li)
2. Company Descriptions 是...的 construction is common for describing what companies do: 我们公司是做X的 (Our company does X)
3. Polite Forms Use 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ) in formal situations 您是...? (Are you...?) shows respect
4. Location in Business For office locations, use 在: 办公室在五楼 (The office is on the fifth floor)
5. Department Affiliations Use possessive 的 to show department membership: 他是市场部的 (He is from the marketing department)
Subject + 是 + Department + 的 + Position Company + 是 + Business Type + 的 Person + 的 + Skill + 很 + Adjective
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Always use 您 for clients and superiors -
State titles clearly with 是 -
Use 的 to show relationships and ownership -
Avoid overusing 是 - let context guide usage -
Remember that qualities (很好, 很重要) don't use 是
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The Latinum Institute has been creating innovative online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering methods that make classical and modern languages accessible to autodidact learners worldwide.
This lesson exemplifies the Latinum Institute's approach to language teaching, which emphasizes:
Interlinear Method: Each word is glossed individually, allowing students to build vocabulary naturally while reading authentic texts. This method, refined over nearly two decades, helps learners internalize grammar patterns through exposure rather than rote memorization.
Construed Texts: Following the tradition of Renaissance language pedagogy, texts are presented in a way that makes word relationships clear, particularly beneficial for languages with different word orders from English.
Cultural Integration: Language is never divorced from culture. Each lesson includes cultural context that helps learners understand not just what to say, but why certain expressions are used.
Progressive Complexity: Starting with simple constructions and building to authentic literary texts, learners develop confidence while being exposed to real language use from the beginning.
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