Definitions
Etymology
Origin unclear. The bottom component 止 represents the sound.
About
The character 是 is a phono-semantic compound, historically formed by placing the "sun" (日) above a component meaning "upright" or "correct" (正), with the lower part now written as a variant resembling a foot (疋). Its original meaning was "correct" or "true", used as an adjective to affirm validity. This sense later evolved into a copular verb meaning "to be", linking a subject to its predicate. It also functions as an affirmative "yes", derived directly from its earlier sense of correctness.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是我的书。
他是我的爸爸。
北京是中国的首都。
学习是很重要的。
她是我最好的朋友。
这本书是很有趣的。
我们的目标是赢得比赛。
他之所以成功是因为努力。