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Questions & Answers about wǒ shì xuéshēng.
Why isn’t there an article like “a” before “student”?
Chinese has no articles. 我是学生 simply means “I am a student.” To specify “the student,” add a demonstrative: 我是那个学生 (wǒ shì nàge xuéshēng) = “I am the student.”
Can I drop 是 and just say 我学生?
No in modern Mandarin. With a noun predicate (student, teacher, doctor), you normally need 是: 我是学生. Saying 我学生 is ungrammatical in standard speech.
Should I say 一个: 我是一个学生?
Usually you don’t need it. 我是学生 is the default. Adding 一个 can add a “one/simply a” nuance: 我是一个学生 (“I’m a/just one student”), or is used when counting/contrasting.
How do I negate this sentence?
Use 不 with 是: 我不是学生 (wǒ bú shì xuéshēng) = “I’m not a student.” Don’t use 没 with 是.
How do I ask “Are you a student?”
Two common ways:
- 你是学生吗？ (nǐ shì xuéshēng ma?)
- 你是不是学生？ (nǐ shì-bu-shì xuéshēng?)
Both are natural yes–no questions.
How do I answer that yes–no question?
Echo the verb:
- Yes: 是 / 是的 / 对，我是（学生）
- No: 不是 / 不是，我不是（学生）
How do I make it plural, like “We are students”?
- 我们是学生 (wǒmen shì xuéshēng).
Chinese nouns don’t show plural by form, so 学生 can be singular or plural. 学生们 is used for a specific group (“the students”), not for generic “students.”
Can I use 是 with adjectives, like “I am happy”?
No. With adjectives, don’t use 是. Use a degree adverb (often 很 as a default):
- 我很高兴 (wǒ hěn gāoxìng) = “I’m happy,” not “我是高兴.”
Any tone or pronunciation tips for the whole sentence?
- 我 wǒ is third tone; before 是 (a fourth tone), it’s usually realized as a low third (no full rise).
- 是 shì is a crisp falling fourth tone with a retroflex “sh.”
- 学生 xuéshēng: xué is second tone; shēng is first tone. The “x” is a soft alveolo-palatal (like “sh” with the tongue forward), and “ue” here is the “ü” sound (spelled “ue” after x).
I sometimes hear xuésheng with a light final syllable. Is that okay?
Yes. Standard citation is xuéshēng (2–1), but in casual speech many speakers make the second syllable neutral: xuésheng. Both are commonly heard.
What measure word should I use with 学生?
- General: 一个学生 (yí ge xuéshēng)
- Polite/formal: 一位学生 (yí wèi xuéshēng)
- Formal/records: 一名学生 (yì míng xuéshēng)
Is “I am a student” the same as “I go to school/I’m studying (now)”?
No.
- Identity/status: 我是学生 = “I am a student.”
- Habitual “go to school”: 我上学.
- Ongoing action “am studying now”: 我在学习 / 我正在学习.
Do I use 是 for locations like “I am at school”?
No. Use 在: 我在学校 (wǒ zài xuéxiào) = “I’m at school.” Don’t say “我是在学校” unless you’re using 是…的 for emphasis or correction.
How do I emphasize or contrast, like “I am the one who’s a student (not him)”?
- 我才是学生 (wǒ cái shì xuéshēng) = “I’m the one who’s a student.”
- 我是学生，不是老师 = “I’m a student, not a teacher.”
Avoid using the 是…的 past-event focus pattern here; it’s not for basic identity.
Can I drop the subject and just say “am a student” in replies?
In a reply, yes, you can be elliptical:
Q: 你是学生吗？
A: 是 / 是的 / 是，学生.
But in a full standalone sentence, keep 我.
What’s the difference between simplified and traditional characters here?
- Simplified (Mainland): 我 是 学生
- Traditional (Taiwan/HK/Macau): 我 是 學生
Pronunciation and grammar are the same.