是 shì
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shì
verb
is; are; am; to be
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: 是 is used in this sense as a copular verb used between two nouns or noun phrases to indicate equality (CC-CEDICT '是'; Guoyu '是' v 2; Ho 2002, '是' 1; NCCED '是' 2; XHZD '是' 1, p. 684). Use in this form is not common in literary Chinese but was used as early as the Han, (Norman 1988, p. 125) notably in translation of Buddhist texts (Kroll 2015 '是' 4, p. 417). 是 is the fourth most frequently used word in the Beijing Language Institute's 1985 frequency wordlist (Ho 2002, '是'). -
shì
verb
is exactly
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: To connect items of a similar kind (XHZD '是' 5, p. 684) -
shì
verb
is suitable; is in contrast
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: 是 is used in this sense in front of a noun to emphasize its suitability or contrast (Guoyu '是' v 1; NCCED '是' 4; XHZD '是' 4, p. 684). -
shì
pronoun
this; that; those
Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
Notes: In literary Chinese 是 most often functions as an anaphoric (referring to something previously mentioned) demonstrative pronoun (Guoyu '是' pronoun; Kroll 2015 '是' 1, p. 417; NCCED '是' 1; Pulleyblank 1995, p. 85; XHZD '是' 9, p. 685). 是 is also used as an indefinite demonstrative pronoun in literary Chinese (Kroll 2015 '是' 2). -
shì
adverb
really; certainly
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: In this sense, 是 is used in front of a verb or adjective to emphasize it (NCCED '是' 6; XHZD '是' 7, p. 684). For example, 特别是在大家面前 'especially in front of everybody.'(Lao She, 2003, p. 176) -
shì
verb
correct; yes; affirmative
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: In this sense, 是 is used as an alternative in a question or as the affirmative answer to a question. 是 is used in this sense in both modern and literary Chinese (Guoyu '是' v 4; NCCED '是' 8; Kroll 2015 '是' 3, p. 417; XHZD '是' 8, p. 684). -
shì
noun
true
Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
Notes: (Guoyu '是' n 1) -
shì
verb
is; has; exists
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: 是 is used to express existence in this sense rather than 有 in some cases for a specific condition (Guoyu '是' v 3; Ho 2002, '是' 2; XHZD '是' 2, p. 684). -
shì
verb
used between repetitions of a word
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
Notes: 是 is used in this form to indicate a distinction of some kind or a concession (Guoyu '是' conjunction; NCCED '是' 3; XHZD '是' 3, p. 684). For example, 从此她是她,我是我,再也不吵嘴 'From now on, she will be who she is and I will be who I am but we will not quarrel again.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 205) -
shì
noun
a matter; an affair
Domain: Literary Chinese 文言文
Notes: In the sense of 事情, for example 国是 'state affairs' (Guoyu '是' n 2) -
shì
proper noun
Shi
Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Names , Concept: Surname 姓氏
Notes: (Guoyu '是' n 3)
Contained in
- 却是 actually ; nevertheless; actually; the fact is ...
- 就是说(就是說) in other words; that is to say
- 手心手背都是肉 both the palm and the back of the hand are made of flesh; to both be of equal importance
- 于是(於是) thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence
- 颠倒是非(顛倒是非) to invert right and wrong
- 见风是雨(見風是雨) see the wind and assume it will rain; gullible; to believe whatever people suggest
- 撩是生非 to stir up trouble; to provoke angry exchange
- 口是心非 duplicity; hypocrisy
- 国是(國是) state affairs
- 是药三分毒(是藥三分毒) every medicine has its side effect
- 老是 always
- 科学技术是第一生产力(科學技術是第一生產力) Science and technology is the number one productive force
- 确是(確是) certainly
- 回头是岸(回頭是岸) the shore is right before you; to repent and start afresh
- 惹是非 to stir up trouble
- 失败是成功之母(失敗是成功之母) Failure is the mother of success.
- 还是(還是) still; nevertheless ; had better ; or ; or
- 那是 of course; naturally; indeed
- 是故 therefore; so; consequently
- 于是乎(於是乎) therefore
- 时间是把杀猪刀(時間是把殺豬刀) time is a butcher's knife; time marches on, relentless and unforgiving; nothing gold can stay
- 五百年前是一家 five hundred years ago we were the same family (said of persons with the same surname)
- 是日 (formal) this day; that day
- 三十六策,走是上计(三十六策,走是上計) of the thirty six strategies, fleeing is the best plan
- 是味儿(是味兒) (of food) to have the right taste; (of people) to feel at ease
- 可是 but; however
- 不是吃素的 not to be trifled with; to be reckoned with
- 物是人非 things have remained the same, but people have changed
- 是非曲直 right and wrong, crooked and straight
- 而是 rather
- 不是味儿(不是味兒) not the right flavor; not quite right; a bit off; fishy; queer; amiss; feel bad; be upset
- 身体是革命的本钱(身體是革命的本錢) the body is the revolution's capital; good health is a prerequisite for work (Mao Zedong's saying)
- 由是感激 because of gratitude
- 岂不是(豈不是) is it not true?
- 听见风就是雨(聽見風就是雨) on hearing wind, to say rain; to agree uncritically with whatever people say; to parrot other people's words
- 或是 or; either ... or ...
- 俯拾皆是 so numerous that one could just bend down and pick them up; extremely common; easily available
- 莫不是 probably; perhaps; could it be that...?
- 求是 to seek the truth
- 沉默是金 Silence is golden.
- 是以 therefore; thus; so; hence
- 总是(總是) always
- 不是吗(不是嗎) isn't that so?
- 派不是 to criticize; to find fault with
- 由是 because of
- 煞是 extremely; very
- 听风就是雨(聽風就是雨) to believe in the rain on hearing the wind; to believe rumors; to be credulous
Also contained in
从门入者不是家珍 、 日日是好日 、 两个凡是 、 遍是宗法性
Word is mentioned most frequently in
Truncated for common words
- 卷105之三 天象志一之三 Volume 105c Treatise 1: Celestial Phenomena 3 Book of Wei 魏書 — count: 213
- 卷105之四 天象志一之四 Volume 105d Treatise 1: Celestial Phenomena 4 Book of Wei 魏書 — count: 167
- 昭公 Lord Zhao The Commentary of Zuo on the Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋左氏傳 — count: 126
- 卷二十九 志第十九 五行下 Volume 29 Treatises 19: Five Elements Part Three Book of Jin 晉書 — count: 118
- 魏紀 Records of the Wei Bamboo Annals 竹書紀年 — count: 117
- 卷六 Scroll 6 Wenxuan 文選 — count: 101
- 卷六十 Scroll 60 Wenxuan 文選 — count: 99
- 卷五 Scroll 5 Wenxuan 文選 — count: 97
- 卷十三 志第三 天文下 Volume 13 Treatises 3: Astronomy Part Three Book of Jin 晉書 — count: 95
- 襄公 Lord Xiang The Commentary of Zuo on the Spring and Autumn Annals 春秋左氏傳 — count: 93