Wanna know an interesting fact? There’s no actual translation of yes in Chinese! However, saying yes in Chinese can be done in different easy ways like 是 (shì.). Want to learn more? Keep reading below!
Mastering the Chinese language starts with mastering one of its most essential words: “Yes.” This three-letter word may seem simple, but it holds immense significance in daily conversations, whether you’re shopping, traveling, dining, or engaging in various interactions. Being able to say “yes” in Chinese not only conveys agreement but also helps you navigate conversations and clarify information when communicating with native speakers.
In this captivating blog, we will unravel the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese. Don’t fret if you’re new to the language! With the help of Romanization and English translations, you’ll find learning Chinese a breeze. Let’s begin!
Easy Ways To Say Yes In Chinese
Even though “yes” is the most common affirmative response in English, we use many other positive words and phrases in different scenarios. Depending on the situation and certain contexts, “yes” can also be said with “sure,” “OK,” “of course,” “yep,” “that’s right,” “correct,” and “no problem” in English. There is no hard and fast rule hard and fast rule! In Chinese, you can use the following.
Yes – 是 (Shì)
The Chinese word 是 (shì) is a simple word and one of the most common ways to say yes in Chinese. It is often used to show that someone agrees with something, like saying “Yes, it is” or “Yes, I am” in English. In some instances, this character is an approximate translation of the English verb “to be.”
Keep in mind that when you use the character for “to be” 是 (shì), the question that was asked will typically also contain this character.
There’s also 是 的 shì de, which is a very polite agreement that also shows the person you’re talking to that you agree with them. It’s more formal and less formal than 是 (shì). The question will still contain 是 (shì).
Example:
Are you Chinese? – 您是中国人吗？(nín shì zhōng guó rén má ？)
是。(Shì.) – Yes, I am.
Correct – 对 (Duì)
This is another way to say yes in Mandarin Chinese. It’s very similar to 是 (shì). In fact, these two can be used interchangeably in many cases. The trick is that when a question contains 对 (duì), the answer is more likely to be 对 (duì), while when it starts with 是 (shì), the answer is more likely to be 是 (shì).
Example:
This is your bag, right? – 这就是你的包,对吧? (zhè jiù shì nǐ de bāo , duì bā ?)
Yes, that’s right. – 对。(Duì.)
The word 对 (duì) can also be used to indicate agreement with a statement made by another person.
Example:
I think this dress is really beautiful. – 我觉得这件衣服真漂亮。(wǒ jué dé zhè jiàn yī fú zhēn piāo liàng 。)
Yes, I think so too – .对。(Duì).
Good – 好 (Hǎo)
In learning Chinese, you have probably already heard of 你好 (nǐ hǎo) a lot of times, and this is where our next word will come from. The word 好 (hǎo) basically means “good,” but it can also be used to say yes in Chinese. In Chinese, 好 (hǎo) is roughly equal to the English words “fine,” “good,” or “OK.”
Example:
We are going to eat now. – 我们现在要吃饭了。(wǒ mén xiàn zài yào chī fàn liǎo 。)
OK, sounds good. – 好。(Hǎo.)
On the other hand, you can use 好 (hǎo) by itself, or you can add different particles to the end to change the meaning of what you’re saying. You can use these varieties, especially when you’re talking to your Chinese friends. See the following examples:
| English Translation | Chinese And Pinyin Romanization | Use |
| Sure, will do. | 好的. (Hǎo de.) | It can be translated as “OK” or “will do”; people in the service business often (but not always) say “yes” when a customer asks for something. |
| OK! | 好呀 (Hǎo ya) | Makes you sound enthusiastic about the person’s fun idea. |
| OK! | 好吧。(Hǎo ba.) | Makes you sound dissatisfied with what the other person is suggesting. |
| Yep, I’m ready! | 好了! (Hǎo le!) | You can say “yes” to some questions by answering with this phrase. It sounds like the English word “yep” and has a good meaning when used this way. |
Not Wrong – 没错 (Méicuò)
Another way of saying Yes in Chinese is with the phrase 没错 (méicuò), which means “yes.” It’s like 对 (duì) in that it’s usually used to agree with what someone else has said. It is also used to agree with what someone else says. In English, it is the same as saying, “That’s true” or “That’s right.”
Example:
People from Sichuan really love spicy food. – 四川人很会吃辣。(Sìchuānrén hěn huì chī là.)
Yes, that’s right. – 没错。Méicuò.
Yeah – 嗯 (En)
If you’re looking for an informal way of saying Yes in Chinese, you can use 嗯 (En). The literal translation of this word in English is “yeah” or “uh-huh.” It’s a common way for Chinese friends to agree with each other in casual conversations and on Chinese social media.
Example:
Are you free to go to a movie tomorrow? – 你明天有空去看电影吗？ (nǐ míng tiān yǒu kōng qù kàn diàn yǐng má ？)
Uh-huh. (嗯。(Èn.)
Can; May – 可以 (Kěyǐ)
Another way of saying yes in Chinese is 可以 (kěyǐ) which indicates permission. This phrase is often used to ask for or give permission to do something. Note that if 可以 (kěyǐ) is in the question, it’s likely that it will also be in the answer. In this situation, it means something like “can” or “may.” As a reply, it can be loosely translated as “Sure,” “OK,” or “Yes, you can.”
Example:
Can I borrow your cell phone? – 我可以借你的手机吗？(wǒ kě yǐ jiè nǐ de shǒu jī má ？)
Sure you can. – 可以。(Kěyǐ.)
Ok; Alright – 行 (Xíng)
It is used in many of the same ways as 可以 (kěyǐ). It’s usually used to say “yes” when someone asks for something or makes a request.
Example:
Can I borrow your car? – 我可以借你的车吗? ( wǒ kě yǐ jiè nǐ de chē ma？)
Ok – 行 (Xíng.)
No Problem – 没问题 (Méiwèntí)
The literal meaning of this word is “without question.” It can be used as the equivalent of “sure” or “no problem” in English.
Example:
Can you do me a favor? – 你能帮我一个忙吗？(nǐ néng bāng wǒ yī gè máng má ?)
Sure, no problem. – 没问题。(Méiwèntí.)
Of Course – 当然 (Dāngrán)
Similar to “of course” or “certainly” in English, this term is a strong affirmative expression. This response makes you sound particularly assured.
Example
我可以坐这儿吗？(wǒ kě yǐ zuò zhè ér má ?)
当然 (Dāngrán)
Tips For Saying Yes In Chinese
In Chinese, expressing “yes” doesn’t always require a specific word. Instead, a clever grammatical structure is used, where agreement is indicated by repeating the main verb or adjective from the question. This approach proves especially effective for students who already have a grasp of basic Chinese vocabulary, as responding calls for the ability to identify keywords in a question.
This technique finds its most common application with verbs. As long as you are familiar with frequently used Chinese verbs such as “要 (yào, to want),” “有 (yǒu, to have),” and “会 (huì, to be able to),” you can apply this strategy, even if you’re a novice with a limited knowledge of Chinese vocabulary.
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