View source for 是

{{also|昰}}
{{character info}}
==Translingual==
{{stroke order|strokes=9}}
{{stroke order|type=animate}}

===Han character===
{{Han char|rn=72|rad=日|as=05|sn=9|four=60801|canj=AMYO|ids=⿱日𤴓 or ⿱旦龰}}

# {{mul-shuowen radical-def|32}}

====Derived characters====
* {{l|mul|[[偍]], [[㔭]], [[㖷]], [[堤]], [[媞]], [[崼]], [[徥]], [[惿]], [[提]], [[湜]], [[隄]], [[遈]], [[㮛]], [[煶]], [[瑅]], [[禔]], [[䐎]], [[睼]], [[碮]], [[䅠]], [[褆]], [[䊓]], [[緹]]([[缇]]), [[蝭]], [[䚣]], [[諟]] ([[𬤊]]), [[䜻]], [[趧]], [[踶]], [[醍]], [[鍉]], [[鞮]], [[䪘]], [[騠]] ([[𫘨]]), [[鯷]] ([[鳀]])}}
* {{l|mul|[[㓳]], [[匙]], [[尟]], [[㼵]], [[韙]]([[韪]]), [[題]]([[题]]), [[鶗]], [[寔]], [[䈕]], [[翨]], [[𤟥]], [[𰁉]]}}

====References====
* {{Han ref|kx=0493.260|dkj=13859|dj=0858.060|hdz=21497.050|uh=662F|ud=26159|bh=AC4F|bd=44111}}

==Chinese==
{{zh-forms|alt=昰,𣆞}}

===Glyph origin===
{{Han etyl}}
Originally a {{Han compound|早|止|ls=psc|c1=s|c2=p|nocap=1}}, but the original meaning is unclear. It has been suggested that {{zh-l|*早}} looks like a spoon, so {{zh-l|*是}} may have been the original character for {{och-l|匙|spoon}}. As early as in late bronze inscriptions, the lower part of {{zh-l|*早}} split off and combined with {{zh-l|*止}} to give {{zh-l|*昰}}, which carried over to the small seal script, and ''{{w|Shuowen}}'' considers this a compound of {{Han compound|日|正|t1=sun|t2=upright; right}} (i.e. as the upright sun).

===Etymology===
“This [an independent pronoun] > this, it [object recapitulation], be right, correct, so > to be, indeed”. The modern copulative sense only emerged by the Eastern Han dynasty ({{zh-ref|Dobson, 1964}}; {{zh-ref|Norman, 1988}}; {{zh-ref|Zürcher, 2013}}), and gradually replaced the archaic {{och-l|唯|to be|id=1}} and the classical copulative construction with {{och-l|也}}. 

This was due to the lack of a left-branching copula as archaic 唯 shifted into a contrasting and restricting particle, as well as its frequent use in presentational copulative constructions, often in the form of "A, 是 B 也" ("A, this is B"), which led to it being gradually reinterpreted as the copula instead of 也. Also note the semantic opposition with literary negative copula {{och-l|非}} as in "right" and "wrong", which emerged by the Warring States period from the frequent collocation of the expression "是 X 也, 非 Y 也" (This is X, not Y) ({{zh-ref|Pulleyblank, 1995}}) . 

To understand this development, compare {{och-l|之|him, it, this > possessive}}, {{och-l|其|he, his, its > dialectal possessive|id=1}}. Compare French {{m|fr|c'est}} which in colloquial speech often replaces copula {{m|fr|est}}, as well as {{m+|ja|は}}, the topic particle like Old Chinese {{och-l|者}}, {{och-l|也|topicalizer}} and left-branching {{och-l|夫|id=2}}, but frequently misinterpreted as the copula by learners.

From {{inh|zh|sit-pro|*m-daj ~ m-di||that; this}}. In Chinese, cognate with {{och-l|寔|this (subject contrastive) }}, {{och-l|實|this (subject contrastive) }}, {{och-l|之|this; him; her; it (oblique) }}, {{och-l|諟|to examine, to consider}}. In Tibeto-Burman, cognate with {{cog|bo|དེ||that}}, {{cog|kac|dai}}, {{m|kac|ndai||this}}, and {{cog|my|ဒီ||this}}.

===Pronunciation 1===
{{zh-pron
|m=shì
|m-s=si4
|m-nj=shiī
|dg=сы1
|c=si6
|c-t=si5
|ca=LL-Q9186-Luilui6666-是.wav
|g=si5
|h=pfs=sṳ;gd=si4
|j=si3
|mb=sī
|md=sê
|mn=xm,zz,tw,sx,km,hc,tc,pn:sī/qz,jj,lk,ph:sǐ
|mn-t=si6
|mn-l=su6
|w=sh,sz,cz,hz,nb:6zy;jx,sx,cm,sj,tx,hy,hn:4zy;cz:2zy;sx:4ze
|w_note=<sup>4</sup>ze (Shaoxingese) - vernacular pronunciation
|x=shr5/shr4
|x_note=shr5 - vernacular; shr4 - literary
|mc=y
|oc=y
|ma=y
|cat=v,n,a,adv,det,pn
}}

====Definitions====
{{head|zh|hanzi}}

# {{lb|zh|literary}} [[this]]; this [[thing]]
#: {{zh-x|是日|'''this''' day}}
#* {{zh-x|是 可 忍，孰 不 可 忍？|If '''this''' can be tolerated, what cannot?|CL}}
#* {{zh-x|日 出 于 ^暘谷，浴 于 ^咸池，拂 于 ^扶桑，是 謂 晨明。|The sun rises from Yanggu, bathes in Xianchi, and draws near to the Fusang: '''this''' is called Dawn.|ref=Huainanzi}}
## {{lb|zh|literary|archaic}} {{ng|a pronoun that refers to an anteposed object of the verb, usually introduced by the a topicalizer or constrative like {{m|zh|[[唯]]}} in the form of {{m|zh|[[唯]] …… 是 + V}}, adding emphasis to the object of the verb. Compare {{m|zh|之}}, which as a pronoun can also refers to the topic as the object, and in earlier forms was also placed before the verb.}}
##: {{zh-x|唯 余 馬 首 是 瞻|Just look at my horse's head|ref=Zuozhuan}}
##* {{zh-x|將 虢 是 滅，何 愛 於 虞 ？|If we shall annex Guo, why should we spare Yu ?|ref=Zuozhuan}}
##* {{zh-x|我 ^周 之 東-遷，^晉、^鄭 是 依。|That we the Zhou migrated East — that was wholly reliant on Jin and Zheng.|ref=Guoyu}}
##* {{zh-x|今 ^商 王 ^受，惟 婦 言 是 用。昏 棄 厥 肆 祀，弗 答；昏 棄 厥 遺 王 父母 弟，不 迪。乃 惟 四方 之 多 罪 逋 逃，是 崇 是 長，是 信 是 使，是 以為 大夫 卿 士，俾 暴虐 于 百姓，以 奸宄 于 ^商 邑。|Now Show, the king of Shang, follows only the words of his wife. He has blindly thrown away the sacrifices which he should present, and makes no response [for the favours which he has received] ; he has blindly thrown away his paternal and maternal relatives, not treating them properly. They are only the vagabonds of the empire, loaded with crimes, '''whom''' he honours and exalts, '''whom''' he employs and trusts, making '''them''' great officers and nobles, so that they can tyrannize over the people, exercising their villainies in the city of Shang.|ref=Shangshu}}
# {{lb|zh|copulative}} to [[be]]
## {{n-g|indicating that the subject and object are the same.}}
##: {{zh-x|泰晤士河 是 ^英國 第二 長 的 河流。|The River Thames '''is''' the second longest river in the UK.}}
##* {{zh-x|跌倒 的 是 一 個 女人，花白 頭髮，衣服 都 很 破爛。|It was a woman, with streaks of white in her hair, wearing ragged clothes.|ref='''1920''', {{w|Lu Xun}}, {{lang|zh|一件小事}} (''An Incident'')}}
## {{n-g|indicating that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.}}
##: {{zh-x|我 是 老師。|I '''am''' a teacher.}}
##: {{zh-x|我 是 中國人。|I '''am''' Chinese.}}
## {{n-g|indicating a place being occupied by the object, where the place forms the subject.}}
##: {{zh-x|房子 前面 是 禾場{cháng}。|The threshing floor '''is''' in front of the house.}}
##: {{zh-x|到處 都 是|to '''be''' everywhere}}
# {{n-g|a particle emphasizing the word following it.}}
#: {{zh-x|我 是 昨天 買 的 票。|It '''was''' yesterday when I bought the ticket.}}
#: {{zh-x|我 買 票 是 在 昨天。|It '''was''' yesterday when I bought the ticket.}}
# {{n-g|a particle showing agreement. In this meaning, {{lang|zh|是}} is stressed.}} [[truly]]; [[indeed]].
#: {{zh-x|天氣 是 冷。|It is '''indeed''' cold.}}
#: {{zh-x|這 件 裙子{zi} '''是''' 很 漂亮，但是 太 貴 了。|Although this dress is '''truly''' beautiful, it's too expensive.}}
# {{n-g|a particle used in an alternative or a negative question}}
#: {{zh-x|你 是 喝茶 還是 喝 咖啡？|Would you like coffee or tea?}}
# {{lb|zh|in affirmative answers}} [[yes]]; [[right]]
#: {{zh-x|你 是 ^張.^三 嗎？'''是'''。|Are you Zhang San? '''Yes'''.}}
#: {{zh-x|是，長{zhǎng}官。|'''Yes''', sir.}}
#: {{zh-x|是，明白 了。|'''Yes''', got it.}}
# [[true]]; [[correct]]
#: {{zh-x|不{bú}是|fault; mistake; wrongdoing}}
#: {{zh-x|你 說 得{de} 是|What you said is '''right'''}}
#: {{zh-x|各 行 其 是|to have each going his own way, i.e., doing what he considers '''right'''}}
#: {{zh-x|共 商 國是|to discuss national affairs}} (This is a fossil word from Ancient Chinese where {{och-l|是}} originally means "what is right (for the country)", i.e., "laws and policies")
#* {{zh-x|^彼-人 是 哉！子 曰 何 其？|Those men are / That man is '''right'''! What do you mean by your words?|ref=Shijing}}
# {{surname|zh}}

=====Usage notes=====
When translated as "[[be|to be]]", {{lang|zh|是}} is used only to link two nouns or nominal expressions.
: {{zh-x|我 是 老師|I '''am''' a teacher}}
: {{zh-x|泰晤士河 是 ^英國 第二 長 的 河流。|The River Thames '''is''' the second longest river in the UK.}}
{{lang|zh|是}} is not used to link a noun and an adjective. The following sentence would be incorrect:
: {{zh-x|@* 這 是 好|*}}
The correct sentence is
: {{zh-x|這 很 好|This '''is (very)''' good}}
Here, {{zh-l|很}} is used as a filler to link a noun and an adjective and is not interpreted as "very".

A way to use {{lang|zh|是}} with an adjective is to use {{zh-l|的|tr=de}} after the adjective to turn it into a noun.
: {{zh-x|那 隻 貓 是 黑 的|This cat is black (This cat is a black one)}}

=====Synonyms=====
{{zh-dial|這}}
{{zh-dial|是}}

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|wuh|hai}}

=====Compounds=====
{{col3|zh|是不是|是以|是否|是啥說啥|是故|是的|是非|是非不分|是非分明|是非曲直|是非自有公論|是非莫辨|乃是|也就是|事實求是|事求是|但是|便是|倒是|值得注意的是|假假若是|光是|凡是|利是|原因是|只是|可不是|可是|多得是|如是|實事求是|尤其是|就是|或是|於是|既是|有的是|橫是|正是|比比皆是|求是|為的是|煞是|獨行其是|盡是|硬是|確是|積非成是|算是|總是|老是|而是|自以為是|自行其是|若是|莫不是|莫衷一是|要不是|要是|賠不是|還是|那倒是|那是|重要的是|雖是|不是事|信是|不是話頭|不是玩的|不是了處|分辨是非|不是過|合是|又是|先是|不是頑的|原是|倒不是|惟命是聽|一身是膽|似是而非|怕不是|也是|不是路|惟命是從|不是算|人我是非|不是味|並不是|不是樣兒|多管是|惟力是視|唯利是求|可知是好|十如是|如何是好|今是昨非|以是|俯拾即是|亡是公|不是別人|不睹是|口是心非|多是|不是東西|唯利是圖|且是|怕是|大是不同|不是人|則是|可正是|不過是|惟利是營|惟利是圖|卻是|可是來|不是個兒|不是話|惹是招非|尋是尋非|不是風犯|很是|不是耍處|大是大非|師心自是|作如是觀|俯拾皆是|對不是|好是|不是滋味|惹是生非|大是|大不應是|不是頭勢|做不是|唯命是聽|一無是處|如是我聞|像是|惟利是逐|大管是|大睹是|唯是命題|不是|仍是|大不是|于是|國是|不是沒有|即是|不是頭|不是不|回頭是岸|單則是|不是頭路|唯命是從|唯利是視|唯利是從|不賭是|不是處|各行其是|唾是命|兀是|伏不是|多少是好|不完全是|便是呢|來者是客|敢則是|是古非今|是非之心|是樣兒|硬是要得|是日|的是|是則|敢是|沒是處|混淆是非|搬是造非|昨非今是|挑撥是非|祇是|是是非非|無是無非|於是乎|皆是|無是處|稱是|本是|是父是子|犯不是|撥弄是非|掠是搬非|是正|甚是|是非堆|比肩皆是|是時|招是惹非|扯是搬非|滿是|是事|果如是言|沒有不是|生是|空即是色|沉默是金|是非得失|是非黑白|是件|早是|真是|是味兒|百無一是|是非善惡|是必|明辨是非|扭是為非|當是|番番是福|由是|用是|柳如是|猶是|物是人非|搬弄是非|是須|渾是|是非顛倒|是長是短|派不是|沒個是處|招是攬非|擔不是|直是|是非題|是非之地|是處|敢只是|渾身是膽|沒是哏|敢莫是|是非人我|索是|道謀是用|竟是|頭頭是道|陪不是|觸目皆是|須不是|說一是一|閑是閑非|莫衷壹是|落不是|見風是雨|阿是穴|習非勝是|馬是得|顛倒是非|須是|非昔是今|論列是非|自是|習非成是|莫是|過是|這的是|馬首是瞻|貌是情非|賠個不是|義方是訓|豈不是|說不是|職是|莫敢是|說是談非|抑是|毋是<tr:m̄ sī>|是但|nan:滿滿是<tr:móa-móa-sī>|全是}}

===Pronunciation 2===
{{zh-pron
|w=sj:8zeq
|cat=prefix}}
{{zh-forms|alt=實,自,什}}

====Definitions====
{{head|zh|hanzi}}

# {{lb|zh|Northern Wu}} {{n-g|Pronominal prefix}}
#: {{zh-x|是我|I, me|W-N}}

=====Compounds=====
{{col3|zh|是我|是爾|是儂|是渠}}

===References===
* {{R:yue:Hanzi}}
* {{thcwd|5013}}

{{cat|cmn|Beginning Mandarin}}

==Japanese==

===Kanji===
{{ja-kanji|rs=日05}}

# [[this]]
# [[right]], [[correct]], [[just]]
# {{non-gloss|indicates agreement or affirmation}}

====Readings====
{{ja-readings
|goon=ぜ
|kanon=し
|kun=これ-, この-, ここ-
|nanori=これ, すなお, ただし, つな, ゆき, よし
}}

===Etymology 1===
{{ja-kanjitab|ぜ|yomi=goon}}
From {{der|ja|ltc|-}} {{ltc-l|是}}

====Pronunciation====
{{ja-pron|ぜ|acc=1|acc_ref=DJR}}

====Noun====
{{ja-noun|ぜ}}

# [[right]], [[justice]]
#: {{ja-usex|'''是'''と[[非]]を[[区別]]する|'''ぜ''' と ひ を くべつ する|to tell apart '''right''' and wrong}}

===Etymology 2===
{{ja-kanjitab|これ|yomi=kun}}
{{ja-see|これ}}

===References===
<references />

==Korean==

===Etymology 1===

====Hanja====
{{ko-hanja|이|시}}

# {{hanja form of|시|[[this]], to [[be]]}}

===Etymology 2===

====Hanja====
{{ko-hanja|바르다#Etymology 3|바를|시}}

# {{hanja form of|시|[[right]]}}

==Old Korean==

===Etymology 1===
A semantically adopted phonogram (''hun'gaja''). {{lang|zh|是}} means "this" in Chinese, and the native Korean word for "this" is {{ko-l|이}}.

====Phonogram====
{{head|oko|phonogram|tr=*-i}}

# {{non-gloss|A syllabic [[phonogram]] denoting final vowel *-i}}
#: {{syn|oko|利}}

===Etymology 2===
A phonetically adopted phonogram (''eum'gaja''), from the Middle Chinese reading {{ltc-l|是}}.

====Phonogram====
{{head|oko|phonogram|tr=*-si}}

# {{non-gloss|A syllabic [[phonogram]] denoting final syllable *-si}}
#: {{syn|oko|示}}

===Etymology 3===

====Particle====
{{head|oko|particle|tr=*-i}}

# {{non-gloss|Nominative case marker}}
#: {{syn|oko|亦|弋只}}

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|okm|이|tr=-i|pos=nominative case marker}}
** {{desc|ko|이|tr=-i|pos=nominative case marker}}

===Etymology 4===

====Adjective====
{{head|oko|adjective|tr=*i-}}

# to [[be]]

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|okm|-이다〮|tr=-ì-tá}}
** {{desc|ko|-이다}}

==Vietnamese==

===Han character===
{{vi-readings|reading=thị|rs=日05}}

# {{rfdef|vi|sort=日05}}