HSK 1 · Chinese hanzi
是 — to be, is, am, are
- Reading
- shì
- Meaning
- to be, is, am, are
- HSK level
- HSK 1
- Language
- Chinese
About this hanzi
是 is a chinese hanzi character commonly studied at the HSK 1 level. Its primary reading is shì and it means to be, is, am, are. To master it, see it in real Chinese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.
是 appears in everyday chinese words such as 是 (to be, is, are), 但是 (but, however) and 还是 (still, or).
Chinese words containing 是
Frequently asked questions
What does 是 mean in Chinese?
是 means to be, is, am, are in Chinese. It is one of the HSK 1 hanzi every learner meets at that level.
How is 是 read?
是 is read shì. Reading it inside real words — 是 and 但是 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.
What level is 是 — is it HSK 1?
Yes. 是 is on the official HSK 1 hanzi list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.
How do you use 是 in a word?
A common word containing 是 is 是 (shì) — "to be, is, are". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.
How do I learn 是 effectively?
Read it in context. Import any Chinese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 是 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.
More HSK 1 hanzi
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