SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/zh-yes-shi

Someone asks 'Zhè shì bēizi ma?' (Is this a cup?). Which word answers 'Yes'?

Shì (是), 'it is'.

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  1. Duōshao (多少)
  2. Ma (吗)
  3. Shì (是) ✔

Why: Mandarin usually answers yes by repeating the verb of the question, here shì, 'is'. Ma turns a sentence into a yes or no question and duōshao asks how much.

Huh, didn't know that: Adding ma (吗) to the end of a sentence makes it a yes or no question.

The dad joke
Is this a cup? Shì. Is this a cup? Shì. My Chinese is going great, I only know one answer.
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References

Answer: Shì (是). Mandarin usually answers yes by repeating the verb of the question, here shì, 'is'. Ma turns a sentence into a yes or no question and duōshao asks how much.

  1. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    Is this a cup?
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. MDBG Chinese Dictionary (CC-CEDICT): 是 www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E6%98%AF
    to be (followed by substantives only) / correct; right; true
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  3. MDBG Chinese Dictionary (CC-CEDICT): 你好吗 www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E4%BD%A0%E5%A5%BD%E5%90%97
    question particle for "yes-no" questions
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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