是
shì
to be (followed by substantives only)
correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4]
Sun (日) + straight path (疋) = what is true and correct
是 originally depicted the sun (日) above a foot or straight path (疋), suggesting something aligned and upright — what is correct, true, and straight. Over time it was grammaticalized into the copula 'to be,' its original straightness lending itself to assertion and rightness.
Words with 是
是次
shì cì
(formal) this time
这就是说
zhè jiù shì shuō
in other words
还是
hái shi
still (as before)
那倒是
nà dào shi
Oh that's true! (interjection of sudden realization)
那是
nà shi
(coll.) of course
钉是钉，铆是铆
dīng shì dīng , mǎo shì mǎo
lit. a nail is a nail and a rivet is a rivet (idiom)
钱不是万能的，没钱是万万不能的
qián bù shì wàn néng de , méi qián shì wàn wàn bù néng de
money isn't everything, but without money you can do nothing (idiom)
阿是穴
ā shì xué
(TCM) ashi point: a tender spot that is not a standard acupuncture point
虽是
suī shì
although
需要是发明之母
xū yào shì fā míng zhī mǔ
Necessity is the mother of invention (European proverb).
头头是道
tóu tóu shì dào
clear and logical
颠倒是非
diān dǎo shì fēi
(idiom) to distort right and wrong; to deliberately mislead