Tomyo

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

是 (shì) … 的 (de)

The "是 (shì) … 的 (de)" construction for 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.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Frequently asked questions

How do you express “The "是 (shì) … 的 (de)" construction for emphasizing details” in Chinese?

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.

Tomyo

Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews

Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.

Download the app

More HSK 1 grammar rules

"A is B" with "是 (shì)"

A + 是 (shì) + B

Directional verbs "来 (lái)" and "去 (qù)"

来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Place

Structure of days of the week with "星期 (xīngqī)"

星期 (xīngqī) + Number

Time words and word order

Subj. + Time … / Time + Subj. …

Expressing actions in progress with "在 (zài)"

(正 (zhèng)) 在 (zài) + Verb

Expressing "will" with "会 (huì)"

会 (huì) + Verb

Indicating location with "在 (zài)" before verbs

Subj. + 在 (zài) + Place + Verb

Expressing "would like to" with "想 (xiǎng)"

想 (xiǎng) + Verb