shì de: 是的 - Yes, That's right, Correct

• Keywords: 是的, shì de, how to say yes in Chinese, shide meaning, Chinese for yes, yes in Mandarin, correct in Chinese, Chinese affirmative, 是 vs 是的, duì vs shì de, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: “是的 (shì de)” is one of the most fundamental ways to say “yes” in Mandarin Chinese. While often the first “yes” a learner encounters, it specifically means “that is correct” or “that's right,” and is used to confirm a fact or agree with a statement. Understanding when to use “是的” versus other affirmative words like “对 (duì)” or “好的 (hǎo de)” is a key step towards sounding more natural in conversation. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use with clear examples.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shì de
• Part of Speech: Affirmative expression / Interjection
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: Yes; that's right; it is so.
• In a Nutshell: Think of “是的 (shì de)” as the most direct way to confirm a “to be” question. If a question asks “Is this…?” or “Are you…?”, “是的” is the perfect response. It literally means “it is,” adding the particle “的 (de)” for emphasis and completeness. It's a factual confirmation, like saying “Indeed” or “That is the case” in English.

• 是 (shì): This is one of the most essential characters in Chinese. Its core meaning is “to be” (is, am, are) and it also functions as a standalone “yes” to confirm existence or identity.
• 的 (de): A versatile grammatical particle. In this context, it doesn't have a direct translatable meaning. It attaches to the verb “是 (shì)” to turn it into a complete, emphatic statement of fact. It adds a sense of certainty and finality, much like saying “That is correct.” instead of just “Correct.”

Together, “是 (shì)” + “的 (de)” create “是的,” a firm and clear affirmation of a fact.

The English word “yes” is a catch-all. It can mean “That is correct,” “I agree,” or “I will do that.” This is a crucial difference. Chinese, being a highly contextual language, uses different words for these situations. 是的 (shì de) is primarily used for the first case: confirming a fact. Compare this to a common Western interaction:

• English: “Will you come to the party tonight?” → “Yes!”
• Chinese: “你今晚会来派对吗 (Nǐ jīn wǎn huì lái pàiduì ma)?” → The natural answer is not “是的.”

Replying with “是的” here would sound oddly formal and detached, as if you're confirming the fact that you will come, rather than enthusiastically agreeing to the invitation. A native speaker would more likely say “会 (huì)” (I will), “好的 (hǎo de)” (Okay), or “去 (qù)” (I'll go). This highlights a key cultural point: In Chinese, affirmative answers often echo the verb or use a word that matches the context (permission, agreement, capability), rather than a single, universal “yes.” “是的” is reserved for confirming the truth of a situation.

“是的” is very common but has a slightly more formal and definite tone than some alternatives.

• Formal Confirmation: In business, academic, or official settings, “是的” is the standard for clear, unambiguous confirmation.
  • Boss: “So the report is due tomorrow?” → Employee: “是的.” (Yes, it is.)
• Answering Factual Questions: It's the default response when someone asks you to confirm a piece of information about yourself or your surroundings.
  • Stranger: “Excuse me, is this the train to Shanghai?” → You: “是的.” (Yes, it is.)
• Polite Agreement: It can be used to politely agree with someone's statement or observation, indicating “what you said is correct.”
  • Friend: “This restaurant is quite famous.” → You: “是的, I've heard good things.” (Yes, that's right…)

Its formality makes it less common in casual, rapid-fire chat between close friends, where shorter responses like “对 (duì)” (right) or “嗯 (èn)” (uh-huh) are more frequent.

• Example 1:
  • A: 这是你的手机吗？ B: 是的。
  • Pinyin: A: Zhè shì nǐ de shǒujī ma? B: Shì de.
  • English: A: Is this your phone? B: Yes, it is.
  • Analysis: A classic example. The question uses “是” (is), so “是的” is the most direct and appropriate affirmative answer.
• Example 2:
  • A: 您是王经理吗？ B: 是的，我是。
  • Pinyin: A: Nín shì Wáng jīnglǐ ma? B: Shì de, wǒ shì.
  • English: A: Are you Manager Wang? B: Yes, I am.
  • Analysis: A formal and polite confirmation of identity. The speaker adds “我是” for clarity, but “是的” alone would also be sufficient.
• Example 3:
  • A: 所以，会议是明天上午九点，对吗？ B: 是的，没错。
  • Pinyin: A: Suǒyǐ, huìyì shì míngtiān shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn, duì ma? B: Shì de, méi cuò.
  • English: A: So, the meeting is at 9 AM tomorrow, correct? B: Yes, that's right.
  • Analysis: Used in a professional context to confirm details. Here, “没错” (not wrong) is added for extra emphasis.
• Example 4:
  • A: 听说你去年去过北京。 B: 是的，那里的夏天很热。
  • Pinyin: A: Tīngshuō nǐ qùnián qùguo Běijīng. B: Shì de, nàlǐ de xiàtiān hěn rè.
  • English: A: I heard you went to Beijing last year. B: Yes, that's right, the summer there is very hot.
  • Analysis: “是的” is used here to confirm the truth of the statement “I heard you went to Beijing.”
• Example 5:
  • A: 这个字是不是读 “xíng”? B: 是的。
  • Pinyin: A: Zhège zì shì bu shì dú “xíng”? B: Shì de.
  • English: A: Is this character read as “xíng”? B: Yes.
  • Analysis: A perfect response to a “是不是 (shì bu shì)” (is or is not) question, which directly asks for factual confirmation.
• Example 6:
  • A: 外面是不是下雨了？ B: 是的，你出门记得带伞。
  • Pinyin: A: Wàimiàn shì bu shì xià yǔ le? B: Shì de, nǐ chūmén jìde dài sǎn.
  • English: A: Is it raining outside? B: Yes, remember to bring an umbrella when you go out.
  • Analysis: Confirming an observation about the current state of things (the weather).
• Example 7:
  • A: 你是中国人吗？ B: 是的。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ shì Zhōngguó rén ma? B: Shì de.
  • English: A: Are you Chinese? B: Yes.
  • Analysis: A standard response to a question about one's identity or nationality.
• Example 8:
  • A: 电影已经开始了吗？ B: 是的，已经开始十分钟了。
  • Pinyin: A: Diànyǐng yǐjīng kāishǐ le ma? B: Shì de, yǐjīng kāishǐ shí fēnzhōng le.
  • English: A: Has the movie already started? B: Yes, it started ten minutes ago.
  • Analysis: “是的” confirms the state of the movie (it has started).
• Example 9:
  • A: 你觉得他的计划可行吗？ B: 我认为是的。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ juéde tā de jìhuà kěxíng ma? B: Wǒ rènwéi shì de.
  • English: A: Do you think his plan is feasible? B: I believe so.
  • Analysis: Here, “是的” is part of a larger phrase “我认为是的” (I believe it is so), showing agreement with a proposition.
• Example 10:
  • A: 办理这个签证需要护照原件，是的吗？ B: 是的。
  • Pinyin: A: Bànlǐ zhège qiānzhèng xūyào hùzhào yuánjiàn, shì de ma? B: Shì de.
  • English: A: To apply for this visa, I need the original passport, is that correct? B: Yes, that's correct.
  • Analysis: The question itself uses “是的吗?” to ask for confirmation, making “是的” the most logical reply.

• Mistake 1: Using “是的” to agree to a request. This is the most common error for English speakers.
  • Incorrect:
  • A: 你能帮我一下吗？ (Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yíxià ma? - Can you help me?)
  • B: 是的。 (Incorrect usage)
  • Why it's wrong: “是的” confirms a fact. It doesn't mean “Okay, I will.” You are confirming the fact that you can help, not agreeing to help.
  • Correct Response: Use “好的 (hǎo de)” (Okay), “可以 (kěyǐ)” (I can), or “没问题 (méi wèntí)” (No problem).
• Mistake 2: Overusing “是的” in casual conversation. While correct, constantly using “是的” can make you sound a bit stiff or like a robot.
  • A bit unnatural:
  • A: This food is good! (这个菜很好吃! Zhège cài hěn hǎochī!)
  • B: 是的。 (Shì de.)
  • Why it's awkward: It's too formal. It sounds like you're a judge confirming the fact that the food is good.
  • More Natural Response: Use “对啊 (duì a)” (Yeah, right!), “嗯 (èn)” (Uh-huh), or “是啊 (shì a)” (Yeah!).
• “是的” vs. “对 (duì)“: These are very close in meaning and often interchangeable.
  • 是的 (shì de) confirms a state of being. It answers “Is it X?” with “It is X.”
  • 对 (duì) confirms the correctness of a statement. It answers “Is what you said correct?” with “What you said is correct.”
  • In many cases, the difference is negligible. But “对” is generally more common in casual conversation to mean “Right!” or “Exactly!”.

• 是 (shì) - The root verb “to be” and a shorter, slightly less formal way to say “yes.”
• 对 (duì) - A very common synonym meaning “right” or “correct.” Often used more casually than “是的.”
• 嗯 (èn / ńg) - The most casual “yes,” equivalent to “uh-huh,” “mm-hmm,” or “yeah.” Used constantly in informal speech and texting.
• 没错 (méi cuò) - “Not wrong,” a strong and confident way to say “That's exactly right!”
• 好的 (hǎo de) - “Okay,” “good.” Used to agree to a request, suggestion, or plan. This is what you use when “yes” means “I will do it.”
• 可以 (kěyǐ) - “Can,” “may,” “alright.” Used to give permission or state that something is possible.
• 行 (xíng) - “Okay,” “alright,” “will do.” Similar to “好的,” often used to agree to arrangements.
• 不是 (bú shì) - The direct antonym of “是,” meaning “no, it is not.”
• 是啊 (shì a) - A softened, more conversational version of “是,” often translating to “Yeah!” or “That's right!” The “啊 (a)” particle adds a friendly, exclamatory tone.