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shì

是shìshì
to be

Usages of shì

我wǒ　是shì　学生xuéshēng。wǒ shì xuéshēng.
I am a student.
你nǐ　是shì　老师lǎoshī　吗ma？nǐ shì lǎoshī ma?
Are you a teacher?
我wǒ　不bú　是shì　老师lǎoshī。wǒ bú shì lǎoshī.
I am not a teacher.

Note how bù (falling tone) changes it's pronunciation to bú (rising tone) when followed by a falling tone.

这zhè　个gè　人rén　是shì　学生xuéshēng。zhè gè rén shì xuéshēng.
This person is a student.
这zhè　个gè　人rén　不bú　是shì　老师lǎoshī。zhè gè rén bú shì lǎoshī.
This person is not a teacher.
我wǒ　是shì　中国zhōngguó　人rén。wǒ shì zhōngguó rén.
I am Chinese.
你nǐ　是shì　中国zhōngguó　人rén　吗ma？nǐ shì zhōngguó rén ma?
Are you Chinese?
李雷lǐléi　是shì　学生xuéshēng。lǐléi shì xuéshēng.
Li Lei is a student.
这zhè　是shì　什么shénme？zhè shì shénme?
What is this?
我wǒ　的de　名字míngzi　是shì　李雷lǐléi。wǒ de míngzi shì lǐléi.
My name is Li Lei.
他tā　也yě　是shì　学生xuéshēng。tā yě shì xuéshēng.
He is also a student.
他tā　和hé　她tā　是shì　朋友péngyou。tā hé tā shì péngyou.
He and she are friends.
我wǒ　有yǒu　一yì　本běn　书shū，那nà　本běn　书shū　是shì　我wǒ　的de。wǒ yǒu yì běn shū,nà běn shū shì wǒ de.
I have a book; that book is mine.
这zhè　是shì　什么shénme　意思yìsi？zhè shì shénme yìsi?
What does this mean?
我们wǒmen　是shì　去年qùnián　在zài　学校xuéxiào　见面jiànmiàn　的de。wǒmen shì qùnián zài xuéxiào jiànmiàn de.
We met at school last year.
我们wǒmen　是shì　坐zuò　地铁dìtiě　去qù　医院yīyuàn　的de，　票piào　也yě　不bú　贵guì。wǒmen shì zuò dìtiě qù yīyuàn de, piào yě bú guì.
We went to the hospital by subway; the tickets weren’t expensive.
我们wǒmen　是shì　骑qí　自行车zìxíngchē　去qù　的de，　不bú　是shì　坐zuò　地铁dìtiě　去qù　的de。wǒmen shì qí zìxíngchē qù de, bú shì zuò dìtiě qù de.
We went by bicycle, not by subway.
她tā　是shì　去年qùnián　来lái　公司gōngsī　工作gōngzuò　的de，　我wǒ　是shì　今年jīnnián　来lái　的de。tā shì qùnián lái gōngsī gōngzuò de, wǒ shì jīnnián lái de.
She came to the company to work last year; I came this year.
学xué　中文zhōngwén　是shì　我wǒ　的de　权利quánlì，　也yě　是shì　我wǒ　的de　爱好àihào。xué zhōngwén shì wǒ de quánlì, yě shì wǒ de àihào.
Learning Chinese is my right and also my hobby.
她Tā　的de　爱好àihào　是shì　看kàn　电影diànyǐng　和hé　听tīng　音乐yīnyuè。Tā de àihào shì kàn diànyǐng hé tīng yīnyuè.
Her hobbies are watching movies and listening to music.
我wǒ　觉得juéde　早zǎo　睡觉shuìjiào　是shì　一yí　个gè　好hǎo　习惯xíguàn。wǒ juéde zǎo shuìjiào shì yí gè hǎo xíguàn.
I think going to bed early is a good habit.
图书馆túshūguǎn　北běi　边bian　有yǒu　一yí　个gè　小xiǎo　公园gōngyuán，　南nán　边bian　是shì　银行yínháng。túshūguǎn běi bian yǒu yí gè xiǎo gōngyuán, nán bian shì yínháng.
There is a small park to the north of the library, and to the south is a bank.
今天jīntiān　是shì　我wǒ　的de　生日shēngrì，　我wǒ　只zhǐ　想xiǎng　跟gēn　家人jiārén　在zài　家jiā　安静ānjìng　地de　吃chī　晚饭wǎnfàn。jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì, wǒ zhǐ xiǎng gēn jiārén zài jiā ānjìng de chī wǎnfàn.
Today is my birthday; I just want to quietly eat dinner at home with my family.
他tā　是shì　一yí　个gè　很hěn　努力nǔlì　的de　学生xuéshēng。tā shì yí gè hěn nǔlì de xuéshēng.
He is a very hardworking student.
我wǒ　的de　学习xuéxí　计划jìhuà　是shì　先xiān　提高tígāo　中文zhōngwén　水平shuǐpíng，　然后ránhòu　再zài　学xué　别的biéde　东西dōngxi。wǒ de xuéxí jìhuà shì xiān tígāo zhōngwén shuǐpíng, ránhòu zài xué biéde dōngxi.
My study plan is to first improve my Chinese level, then learn other things.
她tā　对duì　中国zhōngguó　文化wénhuà　很hěn　有yǒu　兴趣xìngqù，　所以suǒyǐ　她tā　的de　计划jìhuà　是shì　每天měitiān　花huā　一yí　个gè　小时xiǎoshí　提高tígāo　自己zìjǐ　的de　中文zhōngwén　水平shuǐpíng。tā duì zhōngguó wénhuà hěn yǒu xìngqù, suǒyǐ tā de jìhuà shì měitiān huā yí gè xiǎoshí tígāo zìjǐ de zhōngwén shuǐpíng.
She is very interested in Chinese culture, so her plan is to spend an hour every day improving her Chinese level.
他tā　学xué　中文zhōngwén　不bù　是shì　为了wèile　考试kǎoshì，　而是érshì　因为yīnwèi　对duì　中文zhōngwén　有yǒu　兴趣xìngqù。tā xué zhōngwén bù shì wèile kǎoshì, érshì yīnwèi duì zhōngwén yǒu xìngqù.
He studies Chinese not for exams, but because he is interested in Chinese.
我wǒ　想xiǎng　提高tígāo　中文zhōngwén　水平shuǐpíng，　不bù　是shì　为了wèile　让ràng　成绩chéngjì　更gèng　好hǎo，　而是érshì　为了wèile　可kě以yǐ　跟gēn　更gèng　多duō　朋友péngyou　自由zìyóu　表达biǎodá　自己zìjǐ　的de　想法xiǎngfǎ。wǒ xiǎng tígāo zhōngwén shuǐpíng, bù shì wèile ràng chéngjì gèng hǎo, érshì wèile kěyǐ gēn gèng duō péngyou zìyóu biǎodá zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ.
I want to improve my Chinese level not to make my grades better, but so that I can freely express my ideas with more friends.
她tā　说shuō　自己zìjǐ　玩wán　游戏yóuxì　不bù　是shì　为了wèile　赢yíng，　而是érshì　为了wèile　跟gēn　朋友péngyou　一起yìqǐ　玩wán　得de　很hěn　高兴gāoxìng。tā shuō zìjǐ wán yóuxì bù shì wèile yíng, érshì wèile gēn péngyou yìqǐ wán de hěn gāoxìng.
She says she plays games not to win, but to have fun playing together with friends.
她tā　说shuō　自己zìjǐ　睡觉shuìjiào　的de　时候shíhou　喜欢xǐhuan　开着kāizhe　空调kōngtiáo，　不bù　是shì　因为yīnwèi　外面wàimiàn　很hěn　热rè，　而是érshì　因为yīnwèi　这样zhèyàng　比较bǐjiào　安心ānxīn。tā shuō zìjǐ shuìjiào de shíhou xǐhuan kāizhe kōngtiáo, bù shì yīnwèi wàimiàn hěn rè, érshì yīnwèi zhèyàng bǐjiào ānxīn.
She says that when she sleeps she likes to leave the air conditioner on not because it’s hot outside, but because that way she feels more at ease.
他tā　说shuō　最zuì　重要zhòngyào　的de　不bù　是shì　礼物lǐwù　多duō　贵guì，　而是érshì　送sòng　礼物lǐwù　的de　人rén。tā shuō zuì zhòngyào de bù shì lǐwù duō guì, érshì sòng lǐwù de rén.
He says what matters most is not how expensive the gift is, but the person who gives it.
我wǒ　觉得juéde　学习xuéxí　中zhōng　最zuì　重要zhòngyào　的de　不bù　是shì　记住jìzhù　每měi　个gè　生词shēngcí，　而是érshì　知道zhīdào　怎zěn么me　用yòng　它们tāmen。wǒ juéde xuéxí zhōng zuì zhòngyào de bù shì jìzhù měi gè shēngcí, érshì zhīdào zěnme yòng tāmen.
I think the most important thing in learning is not memorizing every new word, but knowing how to use them.
他tā　觉jué得de　女朋友nǚpéngyou　最zuì　可爱kě’ài　的de　地方dìfang　是shì，　他tā　说话shuōhuà　的de　时候shíhou　她tā　总是zǒngshì　笑xiào　着zhe　听tīng。tā juéde nǚpéngyou zuì kě'ài de dìfang shì, tā shuōhuà de shíhou tā zǒngshì xiào zhe tīng.
He thinks the cutest thing about his girlfriend is that whenever he talks, she always listens with a smile.
今天jīntiān　是shì　我wǒ　第一次dìyīcì　来lái　这zhè　个gè　公园gōngyuán。jīntiān shì wǒ dìyīcì lái zhè gè gōngyuán.
Today is my first time coming to this park.
明天míngtiān　是shì　我们wǒmen　城市chéngshì　很hěn　特别tèbié　的de　节日jiérì。míngtiān shì wǒmen chéngshì hěn tèbié de jiérì.
Tomorrow there is an important holiday in our city.
自从zìcóng　我wǒ　来到láidào　这zhè　个gè　城市chéngshì　以后yǐhòu，　这zhè　是shì　我wǒ　第一次dìyīcì　在zài　这里zhèlǐ　过guò　春节Chūnjié。zìcóng wǒ láidào zhè gè chéngshì yǐhòu, zhè shì wǒ dìyīcì zài zhèlǐ guò Chūnjié.
Since I came to this city, this is the first time I’ve spent Spring Festival here.
有些yǒuxiē　观众guānzhòng　是shì　年轻niánqīng　人rén，　也yě　有yǒu　带dài　孩子háizi　来lái　的de　爸爸bàba　妈妈māma。yǒuxiē guānzhòng shì niánqīng rén, yě yǒu dài háizi lái de bàba māma.
Some audience members are young people, and there are also moms and dads who bring their children.
这zhè　个gè　冰箱bīngxiāng　是shì　用来yònglái　放fàng　水果shuǐguǒ　和hé　饮料yǐnliào　的de。zhè gè bīngxiāng shì yònglái fàng shuǐguǒ hé yǐnliào de.
This refrigerator is used to store fruit and drinks.
小李xiǎolǐ　是shì　我wǒ　在zài　公司gōngsī　认识rènshi　的de　朋友péngyou。xiǎolǐ shì wǒ zài gōngsī rènshi de péngyou.
Xiao Li is a friend I met at the company.
我们wǒmen　的de　邻居línjū　住zhù　在zài　我wǒ　家jiā　对面duìmiàn，　是shì　一yí　位wèi　很hěn　热情rèqíng　的de　阿姨āyí。wǒmen de línjū zhù zài wǒ jiā duìmiàn, shì yí wèi hěn rèqíng de āyí.
Our neighbor lives across from my home; she is a very warm auntie.
我wǒ　邻居línjū　是shì　大学生dàxuéshēng，　既jì　爱ài　画画huàhuà　又yòu　爱ài　打篮球dǎlánqiú，　我wǒ　很hěn　羡慕xiànmù　她tā。wǒ línjū shì dàxuéshēng, jì ài huàhuà yòu ài dǎlánqiú, wǒ hěn xiànmù tā.
My neighbor is a college student; she both loves drawing and loves playing basketball, and I really envy her.
他tā　今天jīntiān　不bù　来lái，　或许huòxǔ　是shì　因为yīnwèi　太tài　忙máng　了le。tā jīntiān bù lái, huòxǔ shì yīnwèi tài máng le.
He isn’t coming today; perhaps it’s because he is too busy.
她Tā　的de　理想lǐxiǎng　是shì　当dāng　作家zuòjiā，　所以suǒyǐ　很hěn　喜欢xǐhuan　读dú　小说xiǎoshuō。Tā de lǐxiǎng shì dāng zuòjiā, suǒyǐ hěn xǐhuan dú xiǎoshuō.
Her ideal is to be a writer, so she really likes reading novels.
他Tā　家jiā　的de　经济jīngjì　不bú　太tài　好hǎo，　学费xuéfèi　对duì　他们tāmen　来说láishuō　是shì　一yì　个gè　大dà　问题wèntí。Tā jiā de jīngjì bú tài hǎo, xuéfèi duì tāmen láishuō shì yì gè dà wèntí.
His family’s finances aren’t very good; tuition is a big problem for them.
她tā　是shì　我wǒ　的de　女nǚ　同学tóngxué。tā shì wǒ de nǚ tóngxué.
She is my female classmate.
这Zhè　个gè　小组xiǎozǔ　的de　工作gōngzuò　是shì　他tā　负责fùzé　的de，　别人biéren　帮bāng　他tā　复习fùxí　今天jīntiān　的de　重点zhòngdiǎn。Zhè gè xiǎozǔ de gōngzuò shì tā fùzé de, biéren bāng tā fùxí jīntiān de zhòngdiǎn.
He is in charge of this group’s work, and others help him review today’s key points.
原来Yuánlái　他tā　也yě　是shì　学xué　中文zhōngwén　的de，　不过búguò　水平shuǐpíng　比bǐ　我wǒ　高gāo　一点儿yìdiǎnr。Yuánlái tā yě shì xué zhōngwén de, búguò shuǐpíng bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎnr.
It turns out he also studies Chinese, but his level is a bit higher than mine.
我Wǒ　以为yǐwéi　她tā　是shì　老师lǎoshī，　原来yuánlái　她tā　是shì　来lái　参观cānguān　的de　学生xuéshēng。Wǒ yǐwéi tā shì lǎoshī, yuánlái tā shì lái cānguān de xuéshēng.
I thought she was a teacher; it turns out she is a visiting student.
今天jīntiān　的de　重点zhòngdiǎn　是shì　复习fùxí　这些zhèxiē　生词shēngcí。jīntiān de zhòngdiǎn shì fùxí zhèxiē shēngcí.
The main focus today is to review these new words.
这zhè　次cì　比赛bǐsài　是shì　她tā　负责fùzé　安排ānpái　的de。zhè cì bǐsài shì tā fùzé ānpái de.
She is responsible for organizing this competition.
老师lǎoshī　说shuō，　做zuò　老师lǎoshī　最zuì　重要zhòngyào　的de　是shì　要yào　有yǒu　耐心nàixīn。lǎoshī shuō, zuò lǎoshī zuì zhòngyào de shì yào yǒu nàixīn.
The teacher said that the most important thing about being a teacher is to have patience.
学校xuéxiào　对duì　作业zuòyè　的de　标准biāozhǔn　是shì，　每天měitiān　至少zhìshǎo　写xiě　三sān　个gè　句子jùzi。xuéxiào duì zuòyè de biāozhǔn shì, měitiān zhìshǎo xiě sān gè jùzi.
The school’s standard for homework is to write at least three sentences every day.
我wǒ　之所以zhīsuǒyǐ　喜欢xǐhuan　这zhè　个gè　学校xuéxiào，　是shì　因为yīnwèi　校园xiàoyuán　很hěn　安静ānjìng。wǒ zhīsuǒyǐ xǐhuan zhè gè xuéxiào, shì yīnwèi xiàoyuán hěn ānjìng.
The reason I like this school is that the campus is very quiet.
她tā　之所以zhīsuǒyǐ　对duì　历史lìshǐ　有yǒu　兴趣xìngqù，　是shì　因为yīnwèi　爷爷yéye　常常chángcháng　给gěi　她tā　讲jiǎng　故事gùshi。tā zhīsuǒyǐ duì lìshǐ yǒu xìngqù, shì yīnwèi yéye chángcháng gěi tā jiǎng gùshi.
The reason she’s interested in history is that her grandpa often tells her stories.
他tā　不bú　复习fùxí　的de　原因yuányīn　是shì　太tài　累lèi　了le，　结果jiéguǒ　考试kǎoshì　没méi　考好kǎohǎo。tā bú fùxí de yuányīn shì tài lèi le, jiéguǒ kǎoshì méi kǎohǎo.
The reason he didn’t review was that he was too tired, and as a result he didn’t do well on the exam.
空气kōngqì　污染wūrǎn　这么zhème　严重yánzhòng，　一yì　个gè　原因yuányīn　是shì　塑料sùliào　垃圾lājī　太tài　多duō。kōngqì wūrǎn zhème yánzhòng, yì gè yuányīn shì sùliào lājī tài duō.
For air pollution to be this serious, one reason is that there is too much plastic trash.
我wǒ　之所以zhīsuǒyǐ　觉得juéde　这zhè　几jǐ　天tiān　压力yālì　很hěn　大dà，　是shì　因为yīnwèi　作业zuòyè　太tài　多duō，　结果jiéguǒ　心情xīnqíng　一直yìzhí　不bù　太tài　好hǎo。wǒ zhīsuǒyǐ juéde zhè jǐ tiān yālì hěn dà, shì yīnwèi zuòyè tài duō, jiéguǒ xīnqíng yìzhí bù tài hǎo.
The reason I feel a lot of pressure these days is that there’s too much homework, and as a result my mood has been not so good.
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