zhè shì guōdǐ.

to be

Breakdown of zhè shì guōdǐ.

• 这zhè: this
• 锅底guōdǐ: hot-pot broth base

Questions & Answers about zhè shì guōdǐ.

Why is 这 used by itself here? Why not 这个锅底?

In 这是锅底, 这 means this as a pronoun all by itself: This is ...

So the structure is:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 锅底 = pot bottom / soup base

When 这 directly modifies a noun, you usually need a measure word, for example:

• 这个锅底 = this pot bottom

But in 这是锅底, 这 is not directly modifying 锅底. It is the subject of the sentence, so no measure word is needed.

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What does 是 do in this sentence?

是 is the verb to be in this kind of sentence. It links one noun or pronoun to another.

So:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 锅底 = pot bottom / soup base

This is a very common Chinese pattern:

• A 是 B
• A is B

Examples:

• 这是老师。 = This is the teacher.
• 这是我的书。 = This is my book.

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Can I translate this word-for-word as This is pot bottom?