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How to emphasize details in Chinese with 是 (shì) … 的 (de)

是 (shì) … 的 (de)

是 (shì)…的 (de) — emphasizing details

HSK 1Sentence Patterns

Rule structure

The 是 (shì)…的 (de) construction is used to emphasize specific words in a sentence. Using this construction, emotional emphasis can be placed on the time, place, manner, instrument, subject of the action, purpose, etc. You can translate it using words like "exactly" to show the emphasis.

Examples

这是我昨天买的。

Zhè shì wǒ zuótiān mǎi de.

This is what I bought yesterday.

这是我今天做的。

Zhè shì wǒ jīntiān zuò de.

This is what I did today.

我是坐车去的。

Wǒ shì zuòchēqù de.

I went by car.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

是

shì

To be, yes

的

de

Possessive particle; modifier particle

这

zhè

This

我

wǒ

I, me

昨天

zuótiān

Yesterday

买

mǎi

To buy

今天

jīn tiān

Today

做

zuò

To do, to make, to cook (food)

坐

zuò

To sit, to take (transportation)

车

chē

Car; vehicle

去

qù

To go

朋友

péngyou

Friend

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “emphasizing details” in Chinese with 是…的?

Use the structure: 是 (shì) … 的 (de). For example: 这是我昨天买的。 — “This is what I bought yesterday”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

这是我昨天买的。 — “This is what I bought yesterday”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 1.

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More HSK 1 grammar rules

是 — “is” in Chinese

A + 是 (shì) + B

来 vs 去 — coming and going

来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Place

星期 — days of the week

星期 (xīngqī) + Number

时间 — time words and word order

Subj. + Time … / Time + Subj. …

在 — actions in progress

(正 (zhèng)) 在 (zài) + Verb

会 — will, going to

会 (huì) + Verb

在 — location before verbs

Subj. + 在 (zài) + Place + Verb

想 — wanting to, “I want”

想 (xiǎng) + Verb