Emphatic 是 in Chinese
用是表示强调
是 can occur before an adjective or other predicate to affirm and highlight that description rather than simply link two nouns. In 这位经理是很负责, the speaker strongly accepts the predicate before adding or implying a qualification. Context and stress supply the focus, so not every 是 sentence has this emphatic reading.
Published August 15, 2026
Reviewed August 15, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 是 + Focused Predicate
Read the structure
是 can occur before an adjective or other predicate to affirm and highlight that description rather than simply link two nouns. In 这位经理是很负责, the speaker strongly accepts the predicate before adding or implying a qualification. Context and stress supply the focus, so not every 是 sentence has this emphatic reading. Keep the model Subject + 是 + Focused Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
这位经理是很负责。
This manager really is responsible.
Choose the right context
Affirm that a description or judgment genuinely applies. Place 是 before the predicate whose truth the speaker highlights. Use the pattern before a following qualification or contrast when context supports one.
那部电影是很有意思。
That film really is interesting.
Respect the boundary
Do not treat ordinary noun identification with 是 as this focus pattern. Do not move degree adverbs before emphatic 是. Do not infer contrast when the surrounding discourse supplies none.
这位经理是负责很。
(This manager really responsible very.)
Repair the pattern
The degree adverb follows the adjective: 很 belongs before the adjective inside the predicate highlighted by 是. 是 is inserted inside the predicate: Emphatic 是 precedes the complete predicate 很有意思 rather than splitting it.
这位经理是很负责。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这位经理是很负责。
This manager really is responsible.
这位
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
经理
是
This part occupies the 是 position in the model pattern.
是
Focused Predicate
This part occupies the Focused Predicate position in the model pattern.
很
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
负责
是
This part occupies the 是 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这位经理是很负责。
This manager really is responsible.
那部电影是很有意思。
That film really is interesting.
这个办法是很方便。
This method really is convenient.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Affirm that a description or judgment genuinely applies.
- Place 是 before the predicate whose truth the speaker highlights.
- Use the pattern before a following qualification or contrast when context supports one.
Do not use it when
- Do not treat ordinary noun identification with 是 as this focus pattern.
- Do not move degree adverbs before emphatic 是.
- Do not infer contrast when the surrounding discourse supplies none.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这位经理是负责很。
这位经理是很负责。
The degree adverb follows the adjective
很 belongs before the adjective inside the predicate highlighted by 是.
那部电影很有是意思。
那部电影是很有意思。
是 is inserted inside the predicate
Emphatic 是 precedes the complete predicate 很有意思 rather than splitting it.
这位经理是负责很。
很 belongs before the adjective inside the predicate highlighted by 是.
那部电影很有是意思。
Emphatic 是 precedes the complete predicate 很有意思 rather than splitting it.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 用是表示强调.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 用是表示强调. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Emphatic 是 Questions
Is emphatic 是 the same as the ordinary copula?
No. Ordinary 是 identifies one noun phrase with another. Here 是 highlights the truth of a following adjective or predicate.
Must an explicit 但是 follow this pattern?
No. A later qualification is common, but context may leave it implicit. The page does not treat contrast as obligatory.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三77】, PDF p. 210 (printed p. 204)
Supports placement in HSK 3; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official source系词的语法化过程与趋势
石定栩、韩巍峰 · 汉语学习 / 香港理工大学 · 2013
Locator: Focus-marker discussion, 汉语学习 2013(5), pp. 3-12
Analyzes the grammatical development of 是 from copula to a marker highlighting the following constituent.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
是字句是 Sentences: Identification
Compare ordinary noun identification with 是 highlighting the truth of a following predicate.
Compare
“是……的”句表看法或态度是……的 for Stance or Evaluation
Distinguish bare predicate focus through 是 from the stance-reinforcing 是……的 frame.
Compare
是The 是...的 Construction
Compare predicate emphasis with 是……的 focusing circumstances of a completed event.
Continue learning
副词可表示强调Emphatic Adverb 可
Continue to another pre-predicate device that strengthens a speaker's evaluation.
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Compare
Distinguish bare predicate focus through 是 from the stance-reinforcing 是……的 frame.