Introduction
是 (shì) links a noun to a noun, never straight to an adjective — that is the first rule you learned about it. Add 的 (de) on the end and the rule is satisfied, because 红的 (hóng de) is "the red one", a noun phrase: 这个包是红的。(Zhège bāo shì hóng de.)
Overview
Structure: Noun + 是 (shì) + Adj. + 的 (de)
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| N + 是 + Adj. + 的 | 这个包是红的。(Zhège bāo shì hóng de.) | This bag is red. |
| Contrasting two | 我的是新的，他的是旧的。(Wǒ de shì xīn de, tā de shì jiù de.) | Mine's new, his is old. |
| Question | 你的车是什么颜色的？(Nǐ de chē shì shénme yánsè de?) | What colour is your car? |
| Negative | 这个包不是红的。(Zhège bāo bú shì hóng de.) | This bag isn't red. |
| Plain adjective | 这个包很红。(Zhège bāo hěn hóng.) | This bag is very red. |
是……的 (shì… de) sorts things into kinds; 很 (hěn) + Adj. describes how much:
- 这个包是红的。(Zhège bāo shì hóng de.) — it belongs to the red ones. This answers "which one?" or "what colour?"
- 这个包很红。(Zhège bāo hěn hóng.) — it is a strong red. This answers "how red?"
- ❌ 这个包是红。(Zhège bāo shì hóng.) — the 的 (de) cannot be dropped.
- The 的 (de) here is the one from HSK 1's 的 phrases: 红的 (hóng de) — the red one; 我的 (wǒ de) — mine.
Examples
这个包是红的。
Zhège bāo shì hóng de.
This bag is red.
我的手机是新的。
Wǒ de shǒujī shì xīn de.
My phone is a new one.
你的车是什么颜色的？
Nǐ de chē shì shénme yánsè de?
What colour is your car?
这件衣服不是我的，是他的。
Zhè jiàn yīfu bú shì wǒ de, shì tā de.
This jacket isn't mine, it's his.
那本书是中文的还是英文的？
Nà běn shū shì Zhōngwén de háishi Yīngwén de?
Is that book in Chinese or in English?
这个菜是甜的，我不太喜欢。
Zhège cài shì tián de, wǒ bú tài xǐhuan.
This dish is a sweet one, I'm not keen.
Usage Notes
- Reach for this whenever you are answering "which kind?" — colour, material, language, size, new or old.
- It is the natural pattern for a contrast, because the two 的 (de) phrases line up: 我的是新的，他的是旧的。(Wǒ de shì xīn de, tā de shì jiù de.)
- The question form keeps 的 (de) on the end as well: 是什么颜色的？(Shì shénme yánsè de?)
- Negate 是 (shì), not the adjective: ✓ 不是红的 (bú shì hóng de) ❌ 是不红的 (shì bù hóng de).
- This is a third job for 是……的 (shì… de), alongside emphasising details and giving a purpose. They are told apart by what sits between the two words: an adjective here, a whole verb phrase there.