How Do You Say “Yes” in Chinese?

Learning how to say “yes” in Chinese is usually one of the first things Mandarin students want to master. Unfortunately, Chinese does not have one single word that works exactly like the English “yes.” Instead, the right answer depends on what kind of question you are responding to.

For example, if someone asks whether something is true, you might answer 是 (shì). If someone asks whether their statement is correct, 对 (duì) may sound more natural. If someone suggests a plan, 好 (hǎo) or 行 (xíng) may be the better choice.

This guide explains the most common ways to say yes in Mandarin, with audio, pinyin, example sentences, and notes on when each answer sounds natural. If your goal is to Learn Chinese in China, mastering these everyday responses will make real conversations with native speakers much smoother.

01 How do you say yes in Chinese?

The most important thing to know is that Mandarin has no direct translation for the English word “yes.” Saying “yes” in Chinese requires you to consider the context of the question.

This may sound complicated at first, but it is more similar to English than it seems. English speakers also use many affirmative words and phrases besides “yes,” including “sure,” “OK,” “of course,” “yep,” “that’s right,” “correct,” and “no problem.”

Chinese works in a similar way, but the connection between the question and answer is often even stronger. In many situations, the natural Chinese answer repeats the main verb or adjective from the question. This is why learning basic Chinese grammar and common verbs early on makes everyday conversation much easier.

Just like in English, the more ways you know to express the affirmative in Chinese, the more natural you will sound. The following sections explain 10 common ways to say “yes” in Chinese and when to use each one.

02 10 common ways to say yes in Chinese

The following words and phrases are among the most useful affirmative responses in Mandarin. Some are formal, some are casual, and some only work in specific grammar patterns.

1. 是 | shì | yes; to be

One way to say “yes” in Chinese is 是 (shì). It is usually used to confirm that something is true, similar to “yes, I am” or “yes, it is” in English.

You will see 是 (shì) constantly when studying Chinese because it is also one of the most basic Chinese verbs. It often appears early in beginner lessons alongside basic Chinese words and phrases.

Check out these examples:

When you respond to a question using 是 (shì), the question will normally also contain 是, which in certain contexts is the rough equivalent of the English verb “to be.”

Because answering a question that includes 是 (shì) often involves repeating the verb used in the question, this use of 是 can also be explained using the verb-repetition pattern discussed in section 10 below.

是的 (shìde) is a common variation of 是 (shì). It sounds more formal and polite than 是 by itself. It is often used in work environments when someone wants to respond affirmatively to a manager, supervisor, client, or other person in a more senior position.

For example:

2. 对 | duì | correct; that’s right

对 (duì), which means “right” or “correct,” is another common way to say “yes” in Chinese. It is very similar to 是 (shì), and in many cases the two can be used interchangeably.

In general, if a question contains 对 (duì), the response is more likely to be 对. If the question contains 是 (shì), the response is more likely to be 是.

For example:

对 (duì) is also often used to express agreement with a statement that someone else has made.

3. 没错 | méicuò | that’s right; exactly

The expression 没错 (méicuò) is another way to say “yes” in Chinese. It is similar to 对 (duì) because it is often used to agree with a statement that someone else has made.

If we break 没错 (méicuò) into its component parts, 没 (méi) means “no” or “not,” while 错 (cuò) means “wrong” or “mistake.” Thus, 没错 literally means “not wrong.”

没错 (méicuò) is often used when agreeing with someone else’s opinion. It is similar to English phrases like “that’s true,” “that’s right,” or “exactly.”

For example:

4. 好 | hǎo | OK; good

好 (hǎo) is another common way to say “yes” in Chinese. The most basic meaning of 好 is “good.” You probably recognize this character from 你好 (nǐhǎo), which is usually one of the first words beginning Chinese students learn.

In Chinese, 好 (hǎo) can be used as the rough equivalent of “good,” “fine,” or “OK” in English.

For example:

In addition to using 好 (hǎo) by itself, you can change the meaning of your response slightly by adding different particles to the end.

Common variations: 好的, 好呀, 好吧, and 好了

Adding the particle 的 (de) creates 好的 (hǎo de), which can be translated as “OK” or “will do.” It is often used by people in service settings when agreeing to a customer’s request.

For example:

If you add the particle 呀 (ya) to 好 (hǎo), you get 好呀 (hǎo ya), which makes you sound excited about whatever plan or activity the other person has proposed.

For example:

In contrast, 好吧 (hǎo ba) sounds less enthusiastic. It still expresses agreement, but often in a reluctant way, similar to “OK, fine” in English.

For example:

Finally, 好了 (hǎo le) can also be used as an affirmative answer. In some situations, it has positive connotations and sounds similar to “yep” in English.

For example:

In other contexts, 好了 (hǎo le) can sound exasperated, especially when responding to someone who is pushing you to finish something more quickly. In this case, it is closer to “OK, OK” in English.

5. 可以 | kěyǐ | yes, you can; may

The phrase 可以 (kěyǐ) is another way to express the affirmative in Chinese. It is often used when asking for or giving permission to do something. In this context, its meaning is similar to “can” or “may.” As a response, it can be translated as “sure,” “OK,” or “yes, you can.”

If the question contains 可以 (kěyǐ), the answer will often contain 可以 too.

For example:

Another example:

6. 行 | xíng | OK; alright

行 (xíng) means “OK” or “alright.” It is usually used to respond affirmatively when someone makes a request or asks for permission. In many situations, its use is similar to 可以 (kěyǐ).

For example:

7. 嗯 | èn | yeah; uh-huh

嗯 (èn) is an informal affirmative response similar to “yeah” or “uh-huh” in English. It is often used among friends, both offline and on Chinese social media. Like “uh-huh” in English, it can sound somewhat noncommittal.

For example:

Another common variation is 嗯嗯 (èn èn). Its meaning is more or less the same as 嗯, but with slightly more emphasis.

8. 没问题 | méiwèntí | no problem

没问题 (méiwèntí) is a common Chinese phrase that means “no problem” or “sure” in English.

For example:

9. 当然 | dāngrán | of course

当然 (dāngrán) is a strongly affirmative expression similar to “of course” or “certainly” in English. Answering this way makes you sound especially confident.

For example:

10. Repeat the verb or adjective to say yes in Chinese

One of the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese is not a specific word at all. Instead, it is a grammar pattern that involves expressing agreement by repeating the main verb or adjective from the question.

Because this method requires you to recognize the key word in the question, it works best once you have some basic Chinese vocabulary. It is also a useful reason to study common verbs and sentence patterns through a structured Chinese study plan.

This repetition-based method is most commonly used with verbs. Even if you are a beginner, you can use it with common Chinese verbs such as 要 (yào, to want), 有 (yǒu, to have), and 会 (huì, to be able to).

The following examples show these common Chinese verbs in action:

This grammar-based method also works with adjectives. In the following example, the adjective 好看 (hǎokàn, good-looking) appears in the question and is then repeated in the answer.

03 How to practice saying yes in Chinese naturally

Saying “yes” is one of the most important skills that beginning Mandarin students should learn. The explanations and examples above will help you respond to common Chinese questions more naturally.

Getting a feel for which form of “yes” to use in any given situation takes time and practice. If you still feel unsure about when to use each word or phrase, try watching Chinese TV shows. Listening carefully to the dialogue can help you notice which affirmative responses sound most natural in different real-life contexts.

It also helps to practice with short dialogues, flashcards, and listening exercises. Once you are comfortable recognizing the most common affirmative answers, you can expand into broader skills like Chinese listening comprehension, learning Chinese characters, and HSK-level sentence patterns.

Now that you know some of the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese, practice using them with native speakers, either online or in person.

Remember, 熟能生巧 (shúnéngshēngqiǎo): practice makes perfect.

Once you know how to say “yes,” continue building your everyday Mandarin by learning how to say “no” in Chinese, how to use Chinese measure words, how to talk about weather in Chinese, and how to say happy birthday in Chinese.

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04 Essential vocabulary for saying yes in Chinese

The table below reviews the main Chinese words and phrases used to answer “yes” in Mandarin. For best results, study them with the example sentences above rather than memorizing them as direct one-word translations.

05 FAQ about saying yes in Chinese

06 Final thoughts: saying yes like a native speaker

Learning how to say “yes” in Chinese is less about memorizing one word and more about understanding how Mandarin responds to context. Sometimes the answer is 是. Sometimes it is 对, 好, 可以, 没问题, or a repeated verb from the original question.

As your vocabulary grows, choosing the right affirmative response will become more intuitive. Pay attention to the exact wording of the question, the level of formality, and the speaker’s tone. With enough listening and speaking practice, these different ways to say “yes” will start to feel natural.