Kilo Lingo

(bú shì) - is not, am not, are not in Mandarin

shì

Traditional: 不是

Line drawing of 不是
Coloured illustration of 不是
HSK 1
#38 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

is not, am not, are not

Word origin

A two-character expression: 不 'not' plus 是 'to be' (composed of 日 'sun' over 正 'correct', conveying affirmation). Together 不是 means 'is not'.

Origin
compound
Root
不 (not) + 是 (日 sun + 正 correct)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 不

Stroke order for 是

Examples

I am not a student, I am a teacher.

This is not my book.

Did you not say you were coming tomorrow?

Today is not Monday.

I did not do it on purpose.

Where this fits

Used in

Grammar articles

(12)

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Mandarin · Free printables

不是: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "不是" (is not, am not, are not): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 1.