How to say “yes” in Chinese
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Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Word by word
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Chinese has no single word for 'yes'. You usually answer with the verb of the question. 是 (shì, a sharp fourth tone) works for 'is/am/are' questions; 对 (duì) means 'correct'.
In a sentence
“Nǐ shì xuésheng ma?” “Shì.”
“Are you a student?” “Yes.”
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
How do you say "yes" in Chinese?+
"yes" in Mandarin Chinese is 是, pronounced shì. Chinese has no single word for 'yes'. You usually answer with the verb of the question. 是 (shì, a sharp fourth tone) works for 'is/am/are' questions; 对 (duì) means 'correct'.
What does 是 mean literally?+
是 breaks down as 是 (shì) = to be / yes. Together it means "yes".
How do I get the tones right in shì?+
Chinese has no single word for 'yes'. You usually answer with the verb of the question. 是 (shì, a sharp fourth tone) works for 'is/am/are' questions; 对 (duì) means 'correct'.
More phrases like this
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What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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See all the phrases on the how to say things in Chinese index, or read how to learn Mandarin tones.