是…的
shì … deThe cleft construction — a frame that says "I already know this happened; what I want to specify is THIS particular detail." A surgical tool for adding emphasis and correcting misunderstandings.
构式
gòushì
What a Cleft Construction Does
构式洞见 gòushì dòngjiàn · The Logic of the Cleft
The 是…的 construction is a cleft sentence — linguists call it this because it "cleaves" a sentence in two: what is presupposed (already known) and what is focused (the new or emphasized information). In English, the closest equivalent is the "It was X that…" structure: "It was in Beijing that he studied" — both speakers know he studied; the new information is where.
In 是…的, the 是 opens the frame ("it is the case that") and sets up the focus, while the 的 closes the frame and signals the end of the focused information. Everything between 是 and 的 is what the speaker wants to highlight. The rest of the sentence — the verb, the action itself — is presupposed background. This is why 是…的 only works with events that are already completed or known to both speakers.
The four things that can be focused in Chinese 是…的 sentences correspond to the four classic wh-questions: When? (time) · Where? (place) · How? (manner or means) · Who? (agent or doer). One sentence, four possible cleft versions — each answering a different question about the same known event.
句型
jùxíng
Core Pattern — Focus Brackets
是…的 核心句型 héxīn jùxíng · Core Frame
是 + [FOCUS: time / place / manner / agent] + Verb + 的
他是去年来的。Tā shì qùnián lái de. — He came [last year]. (FOCUS: time)
他是在北京出生的。Tā shì zài Běijīng chūshēng de. — He was born [in Beijing]. (FOCUS: place)
他是开车去的。Tā shì kāichē qù de. — He went [by car]. (FOCUS: manner)
是谁告诉你的？Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de? — Who told you? (FOCUS: agent)
Critical rule: 是 can be omitted in spoken Chinese — 他去年来的 is natural — but 的 at the end is obligatory and cannot be dropped. The 的 is what marks the construction.
他是去年来的。Tā shì qùnián lái de. — He came [last year]. (FOCUS: time)
他是在北京出生的。Tā shì zài Běijīng chūshēng de. — He was born [in Beijing]. (FOCUS: place)
他是开车去的。Tā shì kāichē qù de. — He went [by car]. (FOCUS: manner)
是谁告诉你的？Shì shéi gàosu nǐ de? — Who told you? (FOCUS: agent)
Critical rule: 是 can be omitted in spoken Chinese — 他去年来的 is natural — but 的 at the end is obligatory and cannot be dropped. The 的 is what marks the construction.
学者洞见 xuézhě dòngjiàn · 是…的 Only Works with Completed/Known Events
The most important constraint on 是…的: the action must be completed or at least known to both parties. The construction presupposes that the event happened — the only question is which detail to specify.
This means 是…的 cannot be used for future events: *他是明天来的 is ungrammatical — "tomorrow" is not a detail of a known past event. (You might say 他是明天来 without 的, which means "he's the one coming tomorrow" — but that's a different structure using 是 as the copula, not the cleft frame.)
The typical test: Can you ask a wh-question about a past event that both speakers know occurred? If yes, 是…的 is the right structure. If the event is unknown, new, or future, use a different pattern.
他是去年来的
tā shì qùnián lái de
he came last year (FOCUS: last year, not any other year)
Both speakers know he came — the question is when. 是去年 places "last year" in the focus position, bracketed by 是 and …来的. The construction answers a question or corrects a misunderstanding about the timing: "No, it wasn't three years ago — it was last year."
A: 他是什么时候来的？
A: Tā shì shénme shíhòu lái de?
A: When did he come? (we know he came)
B: 他是去年来的。
B: Tā shì qùnián lái de.
B: He came last year.
我是三年前开始学中文的。
Wǒ shì sān nián qián kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén de.
I started learning Chinese three years ago. (FOCUS: three years ago)
她是今天早上走的
tā shì jīntiān zǎoshang zǒu de
she left this morning (FOCUS: this morning, not yesterday)
More precise time focus — this morning, as opposed to last night or yesterday. The presupposition is clear: she has already left (both speakers know this). The new information is the precise time of departure. Commonly used in conversations about arrivals, departures, and events.
她是今天早上走的，不是昨天。
Tā shì jīntiān zǎoshang zǒu de, bú shì zuótiān.
She left this morning, not yesterday.
这件事是上个月发生的。
Zhè jiàn shì shì shàng gè yuè fāshēng de.
This thing happened last month.
焦点：地点
jiāodiǎn: dìdiǎn
Focusing on Place
Place focus with 在 + location between 是 and the verb. The presupposition is that the speaker was born — the focus is the location. This is how Chinese speakers typically answer "Where were you born?" — using 是…的 to frame the location as the focused new information.
Wǒ shì zài Běijīng chūshēng de, dànshì zài Shànghǎi zhǎngdà de.
I was born in Beijing but grew up in Shanghai.
你是在哪里买的这件衣服？
Nǐ shì zài nǎlǐ mǎi de zhè jiàn yīfu?
Where did you buy this piece of clothing? (we know you bought it)
语法 yǔfǎ · Object Position
When there is an object, it can appear before or after 的: 你在哪里买的这件衣服 / 你在哪里买这件衣服的 — both are acceptable, with the second form slightly more formal. The 是 at the start can be omitted in speech: 你在哪里买的？ is very natural.
他们是在上海见面的
tāmen shì zài Shànghǎi jiànmiàn de
they met in Shanghai (FOCUS: in Shanghai, not elsewhere)
Both speakers know they met — the question is where. The 在上海 sits between 是 and 见面的, specifying the location of the known meeting. Common in stories, biographical accounts, and conversations about how relationships began.
他们是在上海见面的，不是在北京。
Tāmen shì zài Shànghǎi jiànmiàn de, bú shì zài Běijīng.
They met in Shanghai, not in Beijing.
这件事是在会议室讨论的。
Zhè jiàn shì shì zài huìyìshì tǎolùn de.
This matter was discussed in the conference room.
焦点：方式/施事
jiāodiǎn: fāngshì / shīshì
Focusing on Manner & Agent
他是开车去的
tā shì kāichē qù de
he went by car (FOCUS: by car, not by train, not walking)
Manner focus: the verb of transportation or method of doing something sits between 是 and 去的 (or the main verb + 的). The presupposition is that he went somewhere — the new information is how. 开车 (drive a car) is the manner. Other manners: 坐飞机 by plane, 骑车 by bike, 走路 on foot, 打电话 by phone.
A: 他是怎么去的？
A: Tā shì zěnme qù de?
A: How did he get there? (we know he went)
B: 他是开车去的。
B: Tā shì kāichē qù de.
B: He went by car.
我是坐地铁来的。
Wǒ shì zuò dìtiě lái de.
I came by subway.
书是他借的
shū shì tā jiè de
the book was borrowed by him (FOCUS: by him, not by someone else)
Agent focus: who performed the known action. The agent (他) is placed between 是 and the verb + 的. Both speakers know the book was borrowed — the question or point of emphasis is who borrowed it. This is also how 是…的 can function like a passive: the book (subject) + 是 + agent + verb + 的.
书是他借的，不是我借的。
Shū shì tā jiè de, bú shì wǒ jiè de.
The book was borrowed by him, not by me.
这个主意是她想出来的。
Zhège zhǔyi shì tā xiǎng chūlái de.
This idea was thought up by her.
是谁告诉你的
shì shéi gàosu nǐ de
who told you? (FOCUS: which agent, unknown)
The agent-focus question: 是谁 + Verb + 的. Both speakers know that someone told this person something — the unknown is who. 谁 occupies the focus position between 是 and the verb phrase. This is one of the most natural everyday uses of 是…的: interrogating the agent of a known past action.
是谁告诉你这件事的？
Shì shéi gàosu nǐ zhè jiàn shì de?
Who told you about this?
这幅画是谁画的？
Zhè fú huà shì shéi huà de?
Who painted this picture?
这首歌是谁写的？
Zhè shǒu gē shì shéi xiě de?
Who wrote this song?
是的肯定
shì de kěndìng
是的 as Simple Affirmation
是的
shì de
yes; that's right; indeed (affirming something just said)
是的 in its collapsed, fully reduced form is simply an affirmation: "yes, that is the case." The 是 confirms the truth of what was said; the 的 creates a sense of definitiveness or "that's just how it is." It is warmer and more emphatic than a bare 对, and more measured than an enthusiastic 当然.
A: 你是李老师的学生？
A: Nǐ shì Lǐ lǎoshī de xuésheng?
A: You're Teacher Li's student?
B: 是的。
B: Shì de.
B: Yes, that's right.
是的，就是这样。
Shì de, jiù shì zhèyàng.
Yes, exactly like this — that's just how it is.
语域 yǔyù · Register
是的 is slightly formal compared to 对 or 嗯. It suits professional contexts, phone calls, and situations where one wants to sound composed and confirming. 对对对 (right right right) is more casual and enthusiastic. 是的 is the measured, respectful affirmation.
否定
fǒudìng
Negation with 不是…的 — Correcting the Focus
不是…的 · Correcting a Focus
To negate a 是…的 sentence, replace 是 with 不是 — this corrects the focused element.
A: 你是坐飞机来的吗？— Did you come by plane?
B: 不是，我是坐火车来的。— No, I came by train.
A: 你是在上海学的中文吗？— Did you learn Chinese in Shanghai?
B: 不是在上海，是在北京学的。— Not in Shanghai — I learned it in Beijing.
Key point: 不是…的 presupposes the same known event — it simply corrects which detail was true. It does NOT deny that the event happened; it corrects the specific focus point.
A: 你是坐飞机来的吗？— Did you come by plane?
B: 不是，我是坐火车来的。— No, I came by train.
A: 你是在上海学的中文吗？— Did you learn Chinese in Shanghai?
B: 不是在上海，是在北京学的。— Not in Shanghai — I learned it in Beijing.
Key point: 不是…的 presupposes the same known event — it simply corrects which detail was true. It does NOT deny that the event happened; it corrects the specific focus point.
不是我说的
bú shì wǒ shuō de
it wasn't me who said it (correcting the agent)
The classic defensive use of 不是…的: denying agency for a known past statement or action. Both parties know something was said — the 不是…的 corrects the attribution. This is one of the most practically useful forms of the construction in daily social life.
不是我说的，是他说的。
Bú shì wǒ shuō de, shì tā shuō de.
It wasn't me who said it — it was him.
不是故意的。
Bú shì gùyì de.
It wasn't intentional. (lit. It was not-on-purpose)
不是昨天买的
bú shì zuótiān mǎi de
it wasn't bought yesterday (correcting the time)
Time correction: both speakers know the item was bought — the correction is about when. 不是昨天 denies the specific time; the speaker may then supply the correct time with 是…的.
不是昨天买的，是今天买的。
Bú shì zuótiān mǎi de, shì jīntiān mǎi de.
It wasn't bought yesterday — it was bought today.
他不是今天来的，是昨天来的。
Tā bú shì jīntiān lái de, shì zuótiān lái de.
He didn't arrive today — he arrived yesterday.
对照表
duìzhào biǎo
Q&A Pairs — Focus Shift Illustrated
| 问题 Question | 焦点 Focus | 回答 Answer (是…的) | 英文 English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 什么时候来的？ | 时间 Time | 是去年来的 | came last year |
| 在哪里出生的？ | 地点 Place | 是在北京出生的 | born in Beijing |
| 怎么去的？ | 方式 Manner | 是开车去的 | went by car |
| 谁告诉你的？ | 施事 Agent | 是他告诉我的 | he told me |
| 什么时候认识的？ | 时间 Time | 是三年前认识的 | met three years ago |
| 在哪里见面的？ | 地点 Place | 是在上海见面的 | met in Shanghai |
| 谁写的这首歌？ | 施事 Agent | 是他写的 | written by him |
| 这件衣服怎么买的？ | 方式 Manner | 是网上买的 | bought online |
| 这是哪里产的？ | 地点 Place | 是中国产的 | made in China |
成语
chéngyǔ
Idioms — 是 / 非 and Truth
学者洞见 xuézhě dòngjiàn · 是 and 非 — Classical Semantic Range
In Classical Chinese, 是 shì means "this; correct; right" (its copula function "to be" came later), while 非 fēi means "wrong; not; to negate." The pair 是非 shìfēi together means "right and wrong, disputes, gossip, quarrels" — the permanent human preoccupation with distinguishing what is correct from what is not. Many idioms built on 是 and 非 explore this tension.
是非对错
shìfēi duìcuò
right and wrong, correct and incorrect — the full moral spectrum of a situation
Lit: right-wrong-correct-incorrect. A compound of two pairs: 是非 (right/wrong as a classical pair) and 对错 (correct/incorrect as a modern pair). Used to describe careful moral judgment of a complex situation. 分清是非对错 = "to clearly distinguish right from wrong in the situation."
颠倒是非
diāndào shìfēi
to invert right and wrong; to call black white and white black
Lit: overturn-invert-right-wrong. A severe accusation: to deliberately misrepresent the facts, to claim something wrong is right and vice versa. The logical extreme of a bad-faith 是…的 — not just correcting a focus, but inverting the entire reality. Common in political rhetoric and moral arguments.
实事求是
shíshì qiú shì
to seek truth from facts; to be empirical and honest about reality
Lit: real-things-seek-correctness. From the Han-dynasty text Hanshu, later adopted as a Maoist slogan for empirical investigation over dogmatism. One of the most frequently cited phrases in Chinese political and intellectual life. 是 here means "what is actually correct" — finding what is genuinely true through investigation of concrete reality.
似是而非
sì shì ér fēi
seemingly right but actually wrong; plausible but false
Lit: seem-right-but-wrong. Used for arguments, claims, or reasoning that appear correct on the surface but are fundamentally flawed. The danger zone of logical errors — specious reasoning that passes for truth. Appears in classical philosophy and remains common in intellectual criticism.
相邻词汇
xiānglín cíhuì
Adjacent Vocabulary
就是jiù shìexactly; it's precisely (strong affirmation)
正是zhèng shìprecisely; exactly (formal confirmation)
的确díquèindeed; certainly
是非shìfēiright and wrong; dispute; gossip
对duìcorrect; right (affirmation)
没错méicuòthat's right; no mistake
焦点jiāodiǎnfocus; focal point
强调qiángdiàoto emphasize
预设yùshèpresupposition (linguistics)
连词liáncíconjunction; linking word
怎么zěnmehow; in what way (manner question)
为什么wèishénmewhy (reason question)