If you’re just starting out with Mandarin, your first instinct is probably to look for a direct translation of the verb "to be." You want to say "I am," "you are," or "they are." You look it up, find the word shì (是), and think you’ve cracked the code.
You haven't. Honestly, using shì for every instance of "are" is the fastest way to sound like a textbook that was badly translated by a machine in 2005.
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The reality of how do you say are in chinese is that there isn't one single word for it. Mandarin doesn't work like English, Spanish, or French where a single verb conjugation covers existence, location, and description. In Chinese, "are" is a ghost. It appears in some sentences, vanishes in others, and transforms into something else entirely when you're talking about where you are or how you're feeling.
The Big Myth: Is Shì Always the Answer?
Most people think shì (是) is the equivalent of "am/is/are." It’s the first word you learn in HSK 1. You use it to link two nouns. Wǒ shì xuésheng (我是学生) means "I am a student." That works. It’s a clean A = B relationship.
But try saying "You are tired" using shì.
If you say Nǐ shì lèi, a native speaker will look at you with a mix of confusion and pity. It sounds bizarre. In Chinese, you don't "be" tired; you just "tired." Adjectives in Mandarin often function as "stative verbs." This means they carry the "to be" meaning inside them. Instead of saying "are," you use an intensifier like hěn (很), which technically means "very" but usually just acts as a bridge. So, "You are tired" becomes Nǐ hěn lèi. No shì allowed.
When Are Becomes a Place
Then there’s the location issue. If you’re asking "Where are you?" or saying "They are at home," shì is completely useless. You need zài (在).
Zài is a verb of position. It’s how you say "are" when "are" means "to be located at."
- Tāmen zài jiā (他们在家) — They are at home.
- Wǒ zài zhèr (我在这儿) — I am here.
If you use shì here, you’re essentially saying "They are the house" or "I am this place." It’s a fundamental shift in logic. English treats "being a student" and "being at home" as the same kind of "being." Chinese sees them as two entirely different concepts: identity versus location.
The Invisible Are: Describing Things
Let’s talk about adjectives again because this is where 90% of learners trip up. When you ask how do you say are in chinese in the context of a description—like "The flowers are beautiful" or "The water is cold"—the "are" basically disappears.
In Mandarin, you don't say "The water is cold." You say "Water very cold."
Shuǐ hěn lěng. (水很冷).
Why the hěn? It’s a structural quirk. If you just say Shuǐ lěng, it sounds like you’re making a comparison ("The water is colder") or you’re about to finish the sentence with something else. The hěn acts as the glue. It satisfies the ear. Even if the water is only slightly cold, you still use hěn.
The Exception to the Rule
Of course, if you’re emphasizing that something really is a certain way, you might bring shì back in a specific structure called the shì...de construction.
- Zhè duǒ huā shì hóng de. (这朵花是红的).
- Translation: This flower is (a) red (one).
This is used for emphasis or categorization. It’s nuanced. It’s the difference between saying "The car is fast" and "This car is one of those fast ones."
Existence and the Word Yǒu
Sometimes "are" isn't about identity or location; it's about existence. Think about the sentence "There are three books on the table."
In English, we use "are." In Chinese, you use yǒu (有), which usually means "to have."
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu sān běn shū. (桌子上有三本书).
Literally: "Table top has three books."
If you try to use shì here, you’re saying the table is the books. It’s a common mistake for English speakers because our brains are hardwired to use the "to be" verb for existence. To master how do you say are in chinese, you have to train your brain to think in terms of "possession" when describing what exists in a space.
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What About Plurals?
One of the few nice things about Mandarin is that it doesn't care about conjugation. In English, we change "am" to "is" to "are" depending on the subject.
- I am
- You are
- He is
In Chinese, if you do use a verb like shì, it never changes.
Wǒ shì (I am). Nǐ shì (You are). Tā shì (He is). Wǒmen shì (We are).
The verb stays static. The complexity isn't in the conjugation; it's in choosing the right verb for the situation.
Real-World Nuance: The "Indeed" Are
There is a specific way to use shì that even intermediate learners miss. It’s the "emphatic is."
Imagine someone says, "You aren't busy today, right?"
You respond: "I am busy!"
In this case, you can use shì before the adjective to show strong agreement or emphasis.
Wǒ shì hěn máng! (我是很忙!)
It’s like hitting the bold button on your speech. It’s not the standard way to say "are," but it’s how you handle a specific conversational pressure.
Why Context is Everything
If you’re wondering how do you say are in chinese while traveling, you need to know the context of your question. Are you asking if someone is a waiter? Use shì. Are you asking where the bathroom is? Use zài. Are you asking if the food is spicy? Forget the verb and just use the adjective + ma (the question particle).
- Là ma? (Is it spicy?)
- Cèsuǒ zài nǎr? (Where is the bathroom?)
- Nǐ shì fúwùyuán ma? (Are you the waiter?)
Notice how the English "are/is" translates into three completely different sentence patterns. This is why direct translation fails. You aren't just learning words; you're learning a different way of categorizing reality.
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Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't link a noun to an adjective with shì. (e.g., Wǒ shì gāoxìng is wrong. Say Wǒ hěn gāoxìng.)
- Don't use shì for location. (e.g., Wǒ shì jiā means "I am a house.")
- Don't forget the hěn. If you’re using an adjective, you usually need that little "very" bridge even if you don't mean "very."
- Watch out for the plural marker men. While wǒmen means "we," it doesn't change the verb. Focus on the verb type, not the number of people.
Actionable Steps for Mastering "Are"
To get this right, you need to stop thinking in English and start thinking in categories. When you want to say "are," ask yourself these three questions:
- Am I linking two nouns? (e.g., "You are a teacher"). Use shì.
- Am I describing something? (e.g., "You are tall"). Use hěn + Adjective.
- Am I talking about where something is? (e.g., "You are at the office"). Use zài.
Practice Drill: Try translating these three sentences in your head right now:
- They are friends.
- They are happy.
- They are in Beijing.
If you used shì for all three, go back and read the sections above. The first one uses shì, the second uses hěn, and the third uses zài.
Listen for the "Hěn":
Next time you watch a Chinese drama or listen to a podcast, pay attention to how often you hear the word hěn. You'll realize it's everywhere. It’s the invisible workhorse of the Chinese language, doing the job that "are" does in English without ever calling itself a verb.
Use a Grammar Reference:
If you're still confused, check out the Chinese Grammar Wiki. It’s the gold standard for understanding these structural differences. Look specifically at the "Stative Verbs" section to understand why "are" disappears with adjectives.
Speak in Fragments:
If you're stuck, just say the subject and the adjective. Nǐ lèi. It’s not perfect grammar, but it’s actually closer to the truth than using shì. Native speakers will understand you much better if you omit the verb entirely than if you use the wrong one.
Mandarin is a high-context language. The word for "are" isn't a single point on a map; it's a destination that depends on where you're starting from. Once you stop trying to force the English "to be" into a Chinese mold, the language starts to make a lot more sense. You stop translating and start communicating.