是 (shì) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 是 (shì) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 是 (shì) means "To be". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 9 strokes and the radical 日.

Q: How do you write 是 stroke by stroke?

是 has 9 strokes. The radical is 日. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 是 and 旰?

是 (shì) and 旰 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 是?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 日. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 是?

Common words containing 是 include: 是的 (shì de) — Yes; 他是 (tā shì) — He is; 是不是 (shì bú shì) — Is it or not?.

How to Write 是

The character 是 (shì) is written with 9 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 日 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

是 is pronounced shì in Mandarin Chinese. It means To be.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 是 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 是

是的 shì de

Yes

他是 tā shì

He is

是不是 shì bú shì

Is it or not?

Example Sentences

是的，我知道。

shì de wǒ zhī dào

Yes, I know.

他是我的老师。

tā shì wǒ de lǎo shī

He is my teacher.

你是不是学生？

nǐ shì bú shì xué shēng

Are you a student?

Similar Characters

旰 gàn

旱 hàn

旲 tái

Practice Writing 是 (shì)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 是 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 是

What does 是 (shì) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 是 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 是 and 旰?

What mistakes do learners make writing 是?

What common words use 是?

How to Write 是 (shì)