Is: 是 and adjectives
是 links nouns; adjectives need no "is", usually 很.
是 shì links two nouns: "A 是 B", "A is B". It never changes for person or time, and its negative is 不是 bú shì.
- Wǒ shì xuésheng.I'm a student.
- Tā bú shì lǎoshī.He isn't a teacher.
- Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou.This is my friend.
Adjectives without 是
An adjective works like a verb: it needs no 是. In a plain statement it usually takes 很 hěn, which there hardly means "very"; it just makes the sentence sound complete. A bare adjective sounds like a contrast.
| Not | But | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 她是高 | 她很高。 Tā hěn gāo. | She's tall. |
| 我是累 | 我很累。 Wǒ hěn lèi. | I'm tired. |
| 今天是冷 | 今天很冷。 Jīntiān hěn lěng. | It's cold today. |
- Zhège hǎo, nàge bù hǎo.This one is good; that one isn't.
The negative is 不 and the adjective, without 很: 她不高 "she isn't tall".
How much
Other words go where 很 does: 非常 fēicháng "very", 真 zhēn "really", 比较 bǐjiào "rather", 太……了 tài … le "too", and 有点儿 yǒudiǎnr "a bit", for things you'd rather weren't so.
- Tài guì le!It's too expensive!
- Zhège yǒudiǎnr guì.This one is a bit expensive.
For when, where or how something already happened, see 是……的.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
How do you say "I'm a student"?
我是学生 (wǒ shì xuésheng).
How do you say "She's tall" (高 gāo)?
她很高 (tā hěn gāo), not 她是高.
What does 很 add in 今天很冷?
Little: it makes a plain statement. Without it, 今天冷 sounds like a contrast with another day.
How do you say "He isn't a teacher"?
他不是老师 (tā bú shì lǎoshī).
How do you say "not tall"?
不高 (bù gāo), without 很.
How do you say "It's too expensive!"?
太贵了 (tài guì le).
How do you say "This one is a bit expensive"?
这个有点儿贵。
Which word means "very", more strongly than 很?
非常 (fēicháng).