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Choosing Mnemonics

Pick the mnemonic story that sticks best for you by clicking its ☆ — there's no wrong choice, and you'll be able to write your own soon. Then press Continue.

shì = sh + Ø4
variant of 是[shi4] / (used in given names)
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shì = sh + Ø4
to be (followed by substantives only) / correct; right; true / (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well / (adverb for emphatic assertion)
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How to pronounce 是

MandarinBanana teaches pronunciation with the Marilyn Method: every Pinyin syllable is one initial plus one final, the initial becomes a person, an animal or a deity, and the final becomes a place in your memory palace — with the tone deciding which part of that place the scene happens in. Remember the little story below for each half and the whole syllable comes back with them.

= sh initial

Sh is for Sherlock Holmes.

By Matthias • updated about 1 month ago
+ Ø4 final

In the space station’s bathroom.

By Matthias • updated about 2 months ago

是 character breakdown

Chinese characters are built out of smaller characters. Each component carries a mnemonic symbol - one concrete object that stands in for it - and a mnemonic story hands those objects to the person and the place that stand for the pronunciation. Learn a component once and every character that reuses it gets easier.

Component Translations
= r + Ø4
abbr. for 日本[Ri4 ben3], Japan
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= r + Ø4
sun / day / date, day of the month
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xià = xi + a4
down / downwards / below / lower / later / next (week etc) / second (of two parts) / to decline / to go down / to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc) / measure word to show the frequency of an action
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rén = r + (e)n2
person; people / CL:個|个[ge4],位[wei4]
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dàn = d + an4
dawn / morning / daybreak / day / dan, female roles in Chinese opera (traditionally played by specialized male actors)
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Character component without intrinsic meaning
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Characters with 是 as component

= di + Ø1
variant of 堤[di1]
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= di + Ø1
dike / Taiwan pr. [ti2]
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= ti + Ø2
surname Ti
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Words with 是

show 171 more
but / however
but; however
yes, that's right / variant of 似的[shi4 de5]

Sentences with 是

zhēn
shì
sǎo
xìng
de
hěn
na

Want to remember 是 for good?

Make it your learning target and MandarinBanana works out the shortest route to it: the two sounds its syllable is built from, then the components of the character itself, one short step at a time. No account needed to start.

shì

2 translations

Comments

Mad props to liakad for uploading the green skull to https://openclipart.org/detail/4660/greenskull

Matthias, almost 3 years ago

Prompt snippets

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