zhè shì dēngshānxié.

• 这 = this
• 是 = to be / is
• 登山鞋 = hiking shoes or mountaineering shoes

So the structure is:

这 + 是 + 登山鞋
This + is + hiking shoes

In natural English, the translation may be adjusted a bit depending on context, but grammatically the Chinese pattern is very straightforward: subject + linking verb + noun.

Chinese does not use articles the way English does. There is no direct equivalent of a/an/the that must appear before a noun in ordinary sentences.

So 登山鞋 can mean:

• a hiking shoe
• the hiking shoes
• hiking shoes

The exact meaning depends on context.

That is very normal in Chinese. Learners often want every noun to have an English-style article, but Chinese usually leaves that information unstated unless it matters.

That is a very common question.

In Chinese, demonstratives like 这 often go with a measure word when they directly modify a noun:

• 这双登山鞋 = this pair of hiking shoes
• 这只鞋 = this shoe

But in 这是登山鞋, 这 is not directly modifying 登山鞋. Here, 这 stands on its own and means this. It is the subject of the sentence.

So the sentence is structured like:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 登山鞋 = hiking shoes

That is why no measure word is required here.

Yes, but the meaning and emphasis change slightly.

• 这是一双登山鞋。
  = This is a pair of hiking shoes.
  This is very natural when you want to identify the item clearly.

• 这双是登山鞋。
  = This pair is hiking shoes / This pair is a pair of hiking shoes.
  This is less neutral on its own and sounds like you are contrasting it with something else, such as:
  这双是登山鞋，那双是跑鞋。
  This pair is hiking shoes; that pair is running shoes.

So 这是登山鞋 is possible as a simple identification sentence, but 这是一双登山鞋 is often clearer if you want to emphasize a pair of shoes.

Chinese nouns usually do not change form for singular and plural.

So 登山鞋 can refer to:

• one hiking shoe
• a pair of hiking shoes
• hiking shoes in general

You figure it out from context.

That can feel strange for English speakers, because English forces you to choose between shoe and shoes. Chinese often does not.

If you want to be more specific, you can add a measure word:

• 一只登山鞋 = one hiking shoe
• 一双登山鞋 = one pair of hiking shoes

It is a compound noun:

• 登山 = to climb mountains / mountaineering
• 鞋 = shoes

So 登山鞋 literally means mountain-climbing shoes, which is naturally translated as hiking shoes or mountaineering shoes.

Chinese often builds nouns this way by combining meaningful parts into one word.

• 这 = zhè (4th tone)
• 是 = shì (4th tone)

A few pronunciation notes:

• zh in zhè is not the same as English j.
  It is a retroflex sound: your tongue curls slightly back.
• sh in shì is also retroflex and is not exactly the same as English sh.
• Both syllables have the 4th tone, which falls sharply.

So both words sound short and firm:

• zhè
• shì

Learners often blur them together, but it helps to keep the initials distinct:

• zh for 这
• sh for 是

是 is often used when one noun is being identified as another noun.

That is exactly what happens here:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 登山鞋 = hiking shoes

So: This is hiking shoes / These are hiking shoes.

But 是 is not used in every place where English uses is.

For example:

• 他很高。 = He is tall.
  Not 他是很高.
• 我在家。 = I am at home.
  Not 我是在家.

So a useful beginner rule is:

• Use 是 for A is B when B is a noun or noun phrase.
• Do not assume it works in every English to be sentence.

Yes, in this sentence it is very similar to English:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 登山鞋 = hiking shoes

So the word order is:

This + is + hiking shoes

That makes this sentence beginner-friendly.
However, even when the order looks similar, remember that Chinese and English do not always match in details like articles, plural marking, and measure words.

Yes, depending on context.

Chinese does not always mark singular vs. plural as clearly as English. So 这 can refer to:

• this thing
• these things

If the speaker is pointing at one item, it may be understood as this.
If the speaker is pointing at a pair of shoes or a category of shoes, English may translate it as these or this pair of.

That is why translation into English may vary even when the Chinese stays the same.

Yes. 那 means that, so:

• 这是登山鞋。 = This is hiking shoes.
• 那是登山鞋。 = That is hiking shoes.

This is a very common pair for learners:

• 这 = this
• 那 = that

So once you understand this sentence, you can easily make a parallel one with 那.

Yes, it can be natural, especially when identifying something by pointing to it or talking about a product type.

That said, in real conversation, native speakers often make it a little more specific, for example:

• 这是一双登山鞋。 = This is a pair of hiking shoes.
• 这是登山鞋，不是跑鞋。 = These are hiking shoes, not running shoes.

So 这是登山鞋 is understandable and usable, but context matters. Chinese often leaves out details that English speakers expect, and native speakers rely on the situation to fill them in.