fbpx
Menu Close

Lesson 19. A Quick Guide to Verb TO BE in Chinese

To Be in Chinese
To Be in Chinese

I have both good news and bad news for the verb to be in Chinese. Which one do you want to hear first?

Well. I’ll start with the good one first. As stated in the previous post, there is no verb to be conjugation in Chinese. 是 (shì), which has the closest meaning to the verb to be in English, fits well with all personal pronouns and all tenses.

But, wait! Let’s continue hearing the bad news. You cannot only using 是 (shì) to express the verb to be in Chinese. So, keep scrolling down this post. You will be introduced with other concepts to express to be in Chinese in a simple way here.

 

(shì)

Basically, 是 (shì) is used to link two nouns (or pronouns). You can use this magic word 是 (shì) to introduce who you are – your nationality, profession, or anything, as long as it belongs to the noun group.

Structure: Noun + 是 + Noun

印尼人。

印尼人。

shì yìnní rén.

I am Indonesian.

 

科學家。

科学家。

shì kēxuéjiā.

I am a scientist.

 

Of course, you can also use 是 (shì) for describe your family, your friends, or any object that comes on your head now.

飛行員。

飞行员。

shì fēixíngyuán.

He is a pilot.

 

微波。

微波。

Zhè shì wéibō.

This is a microwave.

 

Sounds easy? Now it’s your turn. Try to describe yourself and your surroundings using 是 (shì).

 

If you have checked the Adjectives in Chinese post, you must have probably known that it is possible to use 是 (shì) together with the particle 的 (de) to emphasize an adjectival fact.

 

(hěn)

Unlike the verb to be that works well for connecting noun and adjective in English, Chinese is different. Instead, we use degree adverbs, such as 很 (hěn), to link them.

Structure: Noun + 很 + Adjective

優雅。

优雅。

hěn yōuyǎ.

She is (very) elegant.

 

(zài)

In general, 在 (zài) means the preposition in, on, or at. Besides, 在 (zài) can be also used to indicate someone/something is/are at somewhere.

Structure: Noun + + Location (Adverb of Place)

爸爸銀行里。

爸爸银行里。

Bàba zài yínháng lǐ.

Dad is in the bank.

 

我們咖啡廳前面。

我们咖啡厅前面。

Wǒmen zài kāfēi tīng qiánmiàn.

We are at the front of the cafe.

 

In addition, 在 (zài) can also use to express a continuous action – an action which is happening at the time of speaking.

Structure: Noun + + Verb + Object

喝果汁。

喝果汁。

zài hē guǒzhī.

He is drinking juice.

 

讀一本小說。

读一本小说。

zài dú yī běn xiǎoshuō.

I am reading a novel.

 

Remember this quick guide!

(shì) for Noun + + Noun

(hěn) for Noun + + Adjective

(zài) for Noun + + Location (Adverb of Place) and Noun + + Verb + Object

 

Let’s learn Chinese today! Join us at LingoCards!

42 Comments

  1. furtdsolinopv

    Spot on with this write-up, I really think this web site wants rather more consideration. I’ll most likely be again to read far more, thanks for that info.

  2. rental office

    Howdy! This post could not be written much better! Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!
    He always kept talking about this. I am going to forward this
    post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a very good read. Thank you for sharing!

  3. Casey

    Usually I do not learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to check out and do so!
    Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very great post.

  4. Jason

    Fantastic post but I was wanting to know if you could write a
    litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
    Kudos!

  5. 온라인카지노

    Hi, I do believe this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will come back yet again since i have book marked it.
    Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you
    be rich and continue to guide others.

  6. 바카라사이트

    magnificent post, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector do not notice this.
    You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge
    readers’ base already!

  7. 바카라사이트

    Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew
    of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates.
    I’ve been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was
    hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like
    this. Please let me know if you run into
    anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.

  8. 온라인카지노

    What i do not understood is if truth be told how you’re
    no longer actually much more well-appreciated than you may be right
    now. You are very intelligent. You already know therefore considerably in relation to this matter, made me individually believe it from a lot of numerous angles.

    Its like women and men are not fascinated except it
    is something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your own stuffs excellent.

    At all times deal with it up!

  9. 온라인카지노

    I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but
    your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and
    bookmark your website to come back later on. Cheers

  10. 온라인카지노

    I think the admin of this site is genuinely working hard for his web site,
    because here every information is quality based material.

  11. 바카라사이트

    Wow, this piece of writing is fastidious, my younger sister is analyzing these kinds of things, therefore I am going to
    let know her.

  12. 바카라사이트

    Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was
    a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
    By the way, how can we communicate?

  13. 온라인카지노

    I’m really inspired together with your writing talents and also with the format to your blog.
    Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it your self?

    Anyway keep up the excellent high quality writing, it is rare to peer a great
    blog like this one nowadays..

  14. 온라인카지노

    You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be
    actually something which I think I would never understand.

    It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your
    next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  15. 바카라사이트

    Someone essentially lend a hand to make severely articles
    I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and so far?

    I surprised with the analysis you made to
    create this actual put up incredible. Wonderful process!

  16. 바카라사이트

    Hi, I do think this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will revisit once again since I
    book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.

  17. 온라인카지노

    Hey there! I simply want to give you a huge thumbs up for the excellent info you’ve
    got here on this post. I’ll be coming back to your site for more soon.

  18. 온라인카지노

    Generally I don’t read article on blogs, but I wish to say
    that this write-up very compelled me to check out and do it!

    Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very
    great post.

  19. 온라인카지노

    Hi there! I could have sworn I’ve visited this web
    site before but after looking at some of the posts I realized it’s new to me.

    Regardless, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and
    I’ll be bookmarking it and checking back frequently!

  20. 바카라사이트

    Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favourite reason seemed to
    be at the net the easiest thing to be mindful of. I say to you, I
    definitely get annoyed while people think about concerns
    that they plainly don’t know about. You managed
    to hit the nail upon the highest and also defined out the entire thing without having side-effects , folks could take a signal.

    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  21. 바카라사이트

    you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible.

    It seems that you’re doing any unique trick. Moreover, The contents
    are masterpiece. you have done a excellent process in this topic!

  22. 바카라사이트

    My brother recommended I might like this web site.
    He used to be entirely right. This post actually made my day.
    You cann’t imagine just how a lot time I had spent
    for this information! Thank you!

  23. 바카라사이트

    I believe that is among the so much important info for me.
    And i am glad studying your article. However wanna commentary on few normal
    issues, The site taste is wonderful, the articles is truly excellent :
    D. Just right process, cheers

  24. 바카라사이트

    Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to
    be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of.
    I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people
    consider worries that they just don’t know about.
    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined
    out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take
    a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  25. 카지노사이트

    Hello there, You’ve done an incredible job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to
    my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this site.

  26. 바카라사이트

    For latest information you have to go to see internet and on web I found this site as a finest site
    for most recent updates.

  27. 온라인카지노

    Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to
    find It truly helpful & it helped me out much.
    I hope to give one thing again and help others such as you helped me.

  28. 바카라사이트

    I need to to thank you for this very good read!! I absolutely loved every
    little bit of it. I have you bookmarked to check
    out new things you post…

  29. 바카라사이트

    Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to
    be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say
    to you, I certainly get irked while people think about worries that they just don’t know about.

    You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined
    out the whole thing without having side-effects ,
    people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.

    Thanks

  30. 카지노사이트

    I was recommended this website through my cousin. I am now
    not sure whether or not this post is written by him as nobody else know such precise about my difficulty.
    You’re wonderful! Thank you!

  31. click here

    Hi there, after reading this amazing piece of writing i am too happy to
    share my familiarity here with friends.

  32. Lucienne

    Asking questions are actually fastidious thing if you are not understanding something fully,
    except this piece of writing gives nice understanding
    even.

  33. Francesca

    First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask
    if you don’t mind. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind before
    writing. I have had a tough time clearing my thoughts in getting my
    ideas out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips?
    Cheers!

  34. 우리카지노주소

    Thanks for finally writing about > Lesson 19. A Quick
    Guide to Verb TO BE in Chinese – LingoCards < Loved it!

    my homepage 우리카지노주소

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *