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.
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。