How to say yes in Chinese
"Yes" in Chinese is 是 (shì). Chinese has no all-purpose yes: you answer by repeating the verb or adjective from the question, and words like 对, 好 and 嗯 cover the rest.
Ways to say yes
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | yes | The default answer. |
| 嗯 | èn | mm-hm | Casual acknowledgement in conversation and messages with people you know |
| 对 | duì | right, that's correct | Confirming that what someone said is true |
| 好 | hǎo | OK, sure | Agreeing to a suggestion, plan or request |
| 行 | xíng | OK, that works | Agreeing that something is fine or acceptable, casual |
| 可以 | kě yǐ | yes, you can | Giving permission or saying something is allowed |
| 是的 | shì de | yes | A fuller, slightly more formal yes, common at work and in service |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你是学生吗？是，我在北京读大学。 | nǐ shì xué sheng ma? shì, wǒ zài běi jīng dú dà xué. | Are you a student? Yes, I'm at university in Beijing. |
| 明天去看电影，好吗？好啊！ | míng tiān qù kàn diàn yǐng, hǎo ma? hǎo a! | Shall we see a movie tomorrow? Sure! |
| 我可以用一下你的笔吗？可以，你用吧。 | wǒ kě yǐ yòng yī xià nǐ de bǐ ma? kě yǐ, nǐ yòng ba. | Can I borrow your pen for a second? Sure, go ahead. |
| 你是上海人吧？对，我是上海人。 | nǐ shì shàng hǎi rén ba? duì, wǒ shì shàng hǎi rén. | You're from Shanghai, right? Yes, I am. |
| 八点见，行吗？行，没问题。 | bā diǎn jiàn, xíng ma? xíng, méi wèn tí. | See you at eight, OK? OK, no problem. |
The characters in 是
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | to be; yes, that's right |
Common mistakes
- 是 only works as yes when the question uses 是. To 你喜欢咖啡吗 answer 喜欢, and to 你去吗 answer 去: repeat the verb.
- With a negative question, 对 agrees with the negative. 你不去吗？对 means "right, I'm not going", the opposite of what an English yes would suggest.
- 嗯 is casual. In a formal setting or with a boss, say 是的 or 对 instead.
- 行 here is xíng (OK), not háng, which is the reading in words like 银行.
Related
- No in Chinese: 不
- Please in Chinese: 请
- How are you in Chinese: 你好吗
- Thank you in Chinese: 谢谢
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say yes in Chinese?
是 (shì). Other ways: 嗯 (èn); 对 (duì); 好 (hǎo).
Why is there no word for yes in Chinese?
Mandarin answers a yes-no question by repeating its verb or adjective: 你饿吗？饿。 (nǐ è ma? è.) "Are you hungry? Yes." Words like 是, 对 and 好 each cover only part of what English yes does.
What does 嗯 mean in Chinese?
嗯 (èn) is a casual "mm-hm" or "yeah" that shows you agree or are listening. It is very common in conversation and messages.
How do you say yes, I can in Chinese?
It depends on the kind of can: 可以 (kě yǐ) for permission, 能 (néng) for being able, and 会 (huì) for a learned skill such as 我会游泳 (wǒ huì yóu yǒng), "I can swim".
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