是 shì
to be
是 (shì) is the Chinese word for "to be". Unlike English, Chinese doesn't change the verb — no "am", "is", "are". It's always just 是. With this single word and a few tool words, you can introduce yourself, identify things, and ask about anyone.
How to use 是
我是 ___
I am ___
你是 ___
You are ___
你是 ___ 吗？
Are you ___?
我不是 ___
I am not ___
这是 ___
This is ___
他/她也是 ___
He/She is also ___
Words used with 是
不
bù
not; no
吗
ma
question particle for yes/no questions
也
yě
also; too
学生
xuéshēng
student
老师
lǎoshī
teacher
医生
yīshēng
doctor
猫
māo
cat
中文
Zhōngwén
Chinese language
朋友
péngyǒu
friend
家
jiā
home; family
水
shuǐ
water
中国人
Zhōngguó rén
Chinese person
Frequently asked questions
What does 是 (shì) mean in Chinese?
是 (shì) means "to be" in Chinese. 是 (shì) is the Chinese word for "to be". Unlike English, Chinese doesn't change the verb — no "am", "is", "are". It's always just 是. With this single word and a few tool words, you can introduce yourself, identify things, and ask about anyone.
How do you use 是 in a sentence?
The core pattern is "我是 ___" (I am ___). Once you know this block, you can reuse it with many other words to build full sentences.
What words are commonly used with 是?
Common words that pair with 是 include 不, 吗, 也. Learning these together helps you build complete, natural sentences instead of isolated vocabulary.
What is the difference between 是 (shì) and 有 (yǒu)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 是 means "to be"; 有 means "to have / there is". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Why this concept matters
One concept should unlock a network, not one translation
Speak1000 teaches 是 as part of a cumulative sentence network. You connect it to concepts you already know, hear the combinations in context, and retrieve them in new situations.
See the Concept Unlock MethodHear 是 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 是 (shì) is to hear it used naturally. Start with our free interactive lesson and practice with real audio from day one.
Try Free Lesson: Unit 1