是
shì
to be (followed by substantives only)
correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion); variant of 是[shi4]
Sun (日) + straight path (疋) = what is true and correct
是 originally depicted the sun (日) above a foot or straight path (疋), suggesting something aligned and upright — what is correct, true, and straight. Over time it was grammaticalized into the copula 'to be,' its original straightness lending itself to assertion and rightness.
她是我的老师。
tā shì wǒ de lǎo shī。
She is my teacher.
你说的是对的，我们应该早点出发。
nǐ shuō de shì duì de， wǒ men yīng gāi zǎo diǎn chū fā。
What you said is right — we should set off earlier.
Words with 是
一无是处
yī wú shì chù
(idiom) not one good point; everything about it is wrong
自行其是
zì xíng qí shì
to act as one thinks fit
惹是生非
rě shì shēng fēi
to stir up trouble
更是
gèng shì
even more (so)
头头是道
tóu tóu shì dào
clear and logical
或是
huò shì
or
不是
bù shi
fault; blame
是次
shì cì
(formal) this time
这就是说
zhè jiù shì shuō
in other words
还是
hái shi
still (as before)
那倒是
nà dào shi
Oh that's true! (interjection of sudden realization)
那是
nà shi
(coll.) of course