Phrase: 是
Pinyin: shì
English: “Is” or “Yes”
Usage: This is the most common way to say “yes” in Chinese, especially in Mandarin.
Explanation: In Chinese, the word 是 (shì) is used to affirm statements or respond positively to questions, similar to how “yes” is used in English. It is an essential word in Mandarin Chinese and is widely understood across various contexts.
Example Sentence:
- Chinese: 你是学生吗？是，我是学生。
- Pinyin: Nǐ shì xuéshēng ma? Shì, wǒ shì xuéshēng.
- Translation: Are you a student? Yes, I am a student.
Alternative Ways to Say “Yes”:
- 对 (duì)
- Literal Translation: “Correct”
- Usage: Commonly used to agree with someone’s statement or confirm information.
- Example Sentence:
- Chinese: 这本书是你的，对吗？对，这本书是我的。
- Pinyin: Zhè běn shū shì nǐ de, duì ma? Duì, zhè běn shū shì wǒ de.
- Translation: Is this book yours? Yes, this book is mine.
- 好 (hǎo)
- Literal Translation: “Good” or “Okay”
- Usage: Used to agree to a request or suggestion, similar to “okay” or “sure.”
- Example Sentence:
- Chinese: 我们去吃饭，好吗？好，我们走吧。
- Pinyin: Wǒmen qù chīfàn, hǎo ma? Hǎo, wǒmen zǒu ba.
- Translation: Shall we go eat? Yes, let’s go.
- 嗯 (ǹg) / 嗯 (m)
- Literal Translation: N/A
- Usage: Informally, people often say 嗯 (ǹg) or 嗯 (m) to mean “yes.” This is similar to uttering “uh-huh” or “mm-hmm” in English. It is casual and typically used in spoken conversations.
- Example Sentence:
- Chinese: 你喜欢这个吗？嗯，喜欢。
- Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān zhège ma? Ǹg, xǐhuān.
- Translation: Do you like this? Uh-huh, I like it.
