zhè shì hōnggānjī.

to be

Breakdown of zhè shì hōnggānjī.

• 这zhè: this
• 烘干机hōnggānjī: clothes dryer

Questions & Answers about zhè shì hōnggānjī.

Why is 这 used instead of 这个 here?

这 means this.

In Mandarin, 这 can stand on its own before 是 in a sentence like 这是…… = This is ….

• 这 = this
• 这个 = this one / this + classifier 个

So:

• 这是烘干机。 = This is a dryer.
• 这个是烘干机。 = This one is a dryer.

Both can be natural, but 这是…… is the most direct match for This is ….

What exactly does 是 do in this sentence?

是 is the verb to be in this kind of sentence.

So the structure is:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 烘干机 = dryer

Together: 这是烘干机。

A useful thing to know is that 是 is often used to link one noun to another noun, as in A is B.

Examples:

• 这是老师。 = This is a teacher.
• 这是我的朋友。 = This is my friend.

Why is there no word for a or the before 烘干机?