\tThe closest equivalent of the English word “to be” in Chinese is \u662f (shì). This is used to link nouns to other nouns. The structure is:<\/p>\n
\t[noun] \u662f [noun]
\tLet’s have a look at some examples:<\/p>\n
\t\u6211\u662f\u5b66\u751f\u3002
\tW\u01d2 shì xuésh\u0113ng.
\tI am a student.
\t\u4ed6\u662f\u8001\u5e08\u3002
\tT\u0101 shì l\u01ceosh\u012b.
\tHe is a teacher.
\t\u5979\u662f\u533b\u751f\u3002
\tT\u0101 shì y\u012bsh\u0113ng.
\tShe is a doctor.
\t\u8fd9\u662f\u4e66\u3002
\tZhè shì sh\u016b.
\tThis is a book.
\tNotice how \u662f is used to talk about one noun being another. You can’t use \u662f to link adjectives to nouns, though, as in “this book is heavy”. To do that, you have to use \u5f88 (h\u011bn).<\/p>\n
\tThe basic structure for \u5f88 (h\u011bn) is the same as for \u662f, but \u5f88 is used with adjectives. Have a look at some example sentences:<\/p>\n
\t\u8fd9\u672c\u4e66\u5f88\u91cd\u3002
\tZhè b\u011bn sh\u016b h\u011bn zhòng.
\tThis book is heavy.
\t\u5979\u5f88\u9ad8\u3002
\tT\u0101 h\u011bn g\u0101o.
\tShe is tall.
\t\u6211\u4eec\u5f88\u9ad8\u5174\u3002
\tW\u01d2men h\u011bn g\u0101oxìng.
\tWe are happy.
\tSometimes \u5f88 is translated as “very”, but opinions vary on how accurate this is. We think it’s simply used to link adjectives to nouns, whilst others think it also intensifies the adjectives.<\/p>\n