zhè shì shōujù.

The structure is:

这 + 是 + 收据
this + is + receipt

So it is a very basic Mandarin A is B sentence:

• 这 = this
• 是 = to be / is
• 收据 = receipt

Literally, it is This is receipt, but in natural English we say This is a receipt or This is the receipt, depending on context.

Mandarin usually does not use articles like English a, an, or the.

So 这是收据 can mean:

• This is a receipt
• This is the receipt

The exact meaning depends on the situation. Mandarin often leaves that kind of detail to context.

Both can appear in Mandarin, but they do not work exactly the same way.

In 这是收据, 这 means this, and it stands on its own as the subject of the sentence.

• 这 = this
• 收据 = receipt

You do not need 个 here.

But if you want to say this receipt, as one noun phrase, then you would usually say:

• 这个收据 = this receipt

So compare:

• 这是收据。 = This is a receipt / the receipt.
• 这个收据。 = this receipt (not a full sentence by itself in most contexts)

是 is the verb used to link two nouns or noun-like phrases, similar to English to be in sentences like X is Y.

In this sentence:

• 这 is one thing
• 收据 identifies what it is
• 是 connects them

So 这是收据 means This is a receipt.

A useful point: 是 is commonly used when one thing is being identified as another thing. It is not used in every place where English uses is.

The pinyin is:

zhè shì shōujù

Tone by tone:

• 这 zhè — 4th tone
• 是 shì — 4th tone
• 收 shōu — 1st tone
• 据 jù — 4th tone

A simple pronunciation guide:

• zhè sounds roughly like juh with a sharp falling tone
• shì sounds a bit like shir with a falling tone
• shōu sounds a bit like show with a high steady tone
• jù sounds a bit like jyoo with a falling tone

Try saying it rhythmically:

zhè shì shōu jù

收据 usually means a receipt, especially proof that money was received or that something was paid.

It is a common general word, but in real life there can be related words with different uses. For example:

• 收据 = receipt
• 发票 = invoice / official receipt, often for tax or reimbursement purposes

In many beginner contexts, translating 收据 as receipt is perfectly fine.

Yes, you can say 这是一个收据.

That breaks down as:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 一个 = one / a
• 收据 = receipt

So it means This is a receipt.

However, 这是收据 is also grammatical and natural, especially when you are simply identifying the object. Adding 一个 can make it sound a little more like This is a receipt (one receipt).

So:

• 这是收据。 = natural, simple identification
• 这是一个收据。 = also correct, slightly more explicit

Not if you want a full sentence meaning This is a receipt.

• 这是收据 = full sentence
• 这收据 = sounds like part of a noun phrase, something like this receipt

So if you are identifying an object, you need 是:

• 这是收据。

If you say 这收据, it usually feels incomplete unless it is part of a longer sentence, such as:

• 这收据很重要。 = This receipt is very important.

The easiest way is to add 吗 at the end:

• 这是收据吗？ = Is this a receipt?

Another common question is:

• 这是什么？ = What is this?

So you can think of it like this:

• Statement: 这是收据。
• Yes/no question: 这是收据吗？
• Information question: 这是什么？

Yes, it is natural, especially in a context where you are identifying something physically present.

For example, someone points at a slip of paper and says:

• 这是收据。 = This is the receipt.

In real conversation, people might also say more specific versions, such as:

• 这是你的收据。 = This is your receipt.
• 这是付款收据。 = This is the payment receipt.

But the original sentence is a perfectly normal beginner sentence.

Chinese uses its own punctuation style. The symbol 。 is the standard Chinese full stop.

So:

• English: This is a receipt.
• Chinese: 这是收据。

You will also see other full-width punctuation marks in Chinese writing, such as:

• ， for comma
• ？ for question mark
• ！ for exclamation mark

So the punctuation is different visually, even though the function is similar.