是…的: emphasising when, where and how in Chinese

Used when both people already know the thing happened, and the question is how, when or where. 是 sits before the detail being pointed at; 的 closes the sentence.

Seen in these stories

Every sentence below comes from a free graded story you can read in full, with pinyin over each word.

• 小熊猫刚生的时候是粉色的。

  Baby pandas are pink at first.

  大熊猫 Giant Pandas · HSK 1

• 我的衣服很多都是蓝的。

  Many of my clothes are blue.

  颜色 Colors · HSK 1

• 还有一本是关于历史的。

  And one is about history.

  借书 Borrowing a Book · HSK 2

• 奶奶总是准备很多好吃的。

  Grandma always prepares lots of delicious food.

  春节回家 Going Home for Spring Festival · HSK 3

• 他们做的饺子是最有名的。

  Their dumplings are the most famous.

  一家小餐馆 A Small Restaurant · HSK 3

• 我一进门,他就知道我要热的还是冰的。

  The moment I come through the door, he knows whether I want it hot or iced.

  周末的咖啡馆 Weekend at the Café · HSK 4

• 那个架子上的书,都是客人留下的。

  All the books on that shelf were left behind by customers.

  周末的咖啡馆 Weekend at the Café · HSK 4

• 它最初是为了防止北方民族的进攻而建造的。

  It was originally built to defend against attacks from northern tribes.

  长城的故事 The Story of the Great Wall · HSK 4

• 我们今天看到的长城,大部分是明朝修建的。

  The Great Wall we see today was largely built during the Ming Dynasty.

  长城的故事 The Story of the Great Wall · HSK 4

• 我接过来的时候,盒子还是热的。

  When I took it from him, the box was still warm.

  外卖与快递 Takeout and Parcels · HSK 4

• 可是那种感觉,是点赞给不了的。

  But that feeling is something a "like" cannot give you.

  网络时代的友情 Friendship in the Internet Age · HSK 5

• 丝路的交流不仅是商业上的,也是宗教和艺术上的。

  Silk Road exchange was not only commercial — it was also religious and artistic.

  丝绸之路 The Silk Road · HSK 5