How Do You Say “Yes” in Chinese?

Learning to say “yes” is usually one of the first things you learn when studying a new language. Unfortunately, you might be surprised to learn that in Chinese, there’s no direct equivalent to the English “yes.” Fear not! We’re here to walk you through some of the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese. For example, 是 (🔈 shì)!

a Chinese and western man drinking a beverage with their arms around each other

Table of Contents

Flexible Scheduling, Affordable Pricing 📅 ⛩️
Learn Chinese on the go with your own qualified Chinese teacher. CLI’s team of carefully selected language instructors is here to guide you to your highest learning goals.

Learn Chinese with CLI

CLI is a center for Chinese language and cultural studies in Guilin, China.

No Direct Translation

Mandarin has no direct translation for the English word “yes,” so saying “yes” in Chinese can get a bit complicated. The only way to express the affirmative in Chinese is to consider the context in which you want to use it.

If that sounds scary, don’t worry. It’s actually much more similar to English than you might think. While “yes” is generally the go-to affirmative answer for English speakers, we also have a lot of other affirmative words and phrases that we use in various different situations. For example, “sure,” “OK,” “of course,” “yep,” “that’s right,” “correct” and “no problem” can also be used to mean “yes” depending on the context.

Just like in English, the more ways you know to express the affirmative in Chinese, the more like a native speaker you’ll sound. Check out our list of 10 common ways to say “yes” in Chinese below.

chinese teacher in traditional chinese dress standing in front of yellow background facing forward with promotional language overlaid

10 Common Ways to Say “Yes” in Chinese

1. | shì | to be; yes

One way to say “yes” in Chinese is 是, or shì in pinyin. It’s usually used to confirm that something is true, in the same way that we might say “yes, I am” or “yes, it is” in response to a corresponding question in English.

Check out these examples to get a better idea of how this works:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你是美国人吗? Nǐ shì Měiguórén ma?Are you American?
B:是。Shì.Yes, I am.
Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你是不是学生?Nǐ shìbùshì xuéshēng?Are you a student?
B:是。Shì.Yes, I am.

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

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:这是你的背包吗? Zhè shì nǐ de bèibāo ma?Is this your backpack?
B:是。Shì.Yes, it is.
a Chinese and western man talking with mountains in the background

Learning to say “yes” in Chinese is an important skill that all students of Mandarin need to master.

Note that because answering a question that includes 是 (shì) often involves repeating the verb used in the question, this use of 是 (shì) can also be explained using the pattern discussed in section 10 (yes in other situations) below.

是的 (shìde) is a common variation of 是 (shì) which sounds more formal and polite than 是 (shì) by itself. It is a common way to say “yes” in work environments when a subordinate wants to respond in the affirmative to a manager, boss, or other person in a more senior position.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你这周是不是要出差?Nǐ zhè zhōu shìbùshì yào chūchāi?Are you going on a business trip this week?
B:是的。Shìde.Yes, that’s right.

2. | duì | correct

对 (duì), which means “right” or “correct,” is another common way to say “yes” in Chinese. It’s 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 (duì), while if the question contains 是 (shì), the response is likely to be 是 (shì).

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:这是你的手机,对吗? Zhè shì nǐ de shǒujī, duì ma?This is your cell phone, right?
B:对。Duì.Yes, that’s right.

对 (duì) is also often used to express agreement with a statement that someone else has made, as in the following example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:我觉得这朵花很漂亮。 Wǒ juédé zhè duǒ huā hěn piàoliang.I think this flower is really beautiful.
B:对。Duì.Yes, I think so too.

3. 没错 | méicuò | not wrong

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

If we break 没错 (méicuò) into its component parts, we can see that 没 (méi) means “no” or “not,” as in 没有 (méiyǒu, not have; be without), while 错 (cuò) means “wrong” or “mistake,” as in 错误 (cuòwù, mistake; error). Thus, 没错 (méicuò) literally means “not wrong.”

没错 (méicuò) is often used when agreeing with someone else’s opinion and is the equivalent of English phrases like “that’s true” or “that’s right.”

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:四川人很会吃辣。Sìchuānrén hěn huì chī là.People from Sichuan really love spicy food.
B:没错。 Méicuò.Yes, that’s right.

students practicing tai chi

Context is critical when deciding which version of “yes” to use in Chinese.

4. | hǎo | good

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

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

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:我们现在去散步。Wǒmen xiànzài qù sànbù.We’re going for a walk now.
B:好。Hǎo.OK, sounds good.

In addition to using 好 (hǎo) by itself, it’s also possible to change the meaning of your response slightly by adding various particles to the end.

For instance, adding the particle 的 (de) creates 好的 (hǎo de), which can be translated as “OK” or “will do.” It’s often (although not exclusively) used by people in the service industry when agreeing with a customer’s request.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:师傅,你八点来接我,好吗?Shīfù, nǐ bā diǎn lái jiē wǒ, hǎo ma?Driver, could you pick me up at 8 o’clock?
B:好的。Hǎo de.Sure, will do.

Likewise, if you add the particle 呀 (ya) to 好 (hǎo), you get 好呀 (hǎo ya), which makes you sound excited about whatever fun plan or activity the person you’re talking to has proposed.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:我们明天一起去看电影吧。Wǒmen míngtiān yīqǐ qù kàn diànyǐng ba.Let’s go see a movie tomorrow.
B:好呀!Hǎo ya!OK!

a blond student talking to a member of a Chinese ethnic minority group

Learning how to say “yes” in a variety of ways will make your Chinese sound more authentic.

In contrast to 好呀 (hǎo ya), answering someone using 好 (hǎo) plus the particle 吧 (ba), or 好吧 (hǎo ba), makes you sound as if you’re less than pleased about whatever it is that the person you’re talking to is proposing.

好吧 (hǎo ba) is still a way to agree with someone’s suggestion, but it’s a reluctant form of agreement that indicates you’d rather not do whatever it is that’s been proposed.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你早上五点来我家,好吗? Nǐ zǎoshang wǔ diǎn lái wǒ jiā, hǎo ma?Come by my house at 5am, OK?
B:好吧。 Hǎo ba.OK.

Last but not least, if you add the particle 了 (le), you get 好了 (hǎo le). This phrase can be used to respond affirmatively to certain questions. When used in this way, it has positive connotations and is similar to “yep” in English.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你准备好了吗?Nǐ zhǔnbèi hǎo le ma?Are you ready?
B:好了!Hǎo le!Yep, I’m ready!

In certain contexts, the phrase 好了 (hǎo le) can also have negative connotations, however. This is usually the case when it’s being used to respond to someone who is pushing you to do something or finish something more quickly or efficiently. In this case, it’s similar to “OK, OK” in English and using it makes you sound a bit exasperated.

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你还没准备好吗?Nǐ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo ma?You’re still not ready?
B:好了,好了,我已经好了。Hǎo le, hǎo le, wǒ yǐjīng hǎo le.OK, OK, I’m ready now.

5. 可以 | kěyǐ | can; may; [indicating permission]

The phrase 可以 (kěyǐ) is another way to express the affirmative in Chinese. It’s 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 roughly translated as “sure,” “OK,” or “yes, you can.”

Note that if the question contains 可以 (kěyǐ), it’s likely that the response will as well.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:我可以借你的笔吗?Wǒ kěyǐ jiè nǐ de bǐ ma?Can I borrow your pen?
B:可以。Kěyǐ.Sure you can.

Another example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:这里可以拍照吗?Zhèlǐ kěyǐ pāizhào ma?Can I take pictures here?
B:可以。Kěyǐ.Yes, you can.
a red haired man watching a Chinese man write Chinese characters with a calligraphy brush

Once you’ve mastered the art of saying “yes” like a native, your life in China will go much more smoothly.

6. | xíng | ok; alright

行 (xíng) means “OK” or “alright.” It’s 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:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:帮我买一瓶水。Bāng wǒ mǎi yī píng shuǐ.Buy me a bottle of water, (please).
B:行!Xíng!OK!

7. | èn | yeah

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

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你有空吗?Nǐ yǒu kòng ma?Are you free?
B:嗯。Èn.Uh-huh.

Another common variation of 嗯 (èn) that you might see is 嗯嗯 (èn èn). Its meaning is more or less the same as 嗯 (èn), but with a bit more emphasis.

8. 没问题 | méiwèntí | no problem

没问题 (méiwèntí) is a common Chinese phrase that’s the equivalent of “no problem” or “sure” in English.

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你能帮我一下吗?Nǐ néng bāng wǒ yīxià ma?Can you help me out?
B:没问题。Méiwèntí.Sure, no problem.
a blond student with her Chinese teacher sitting at a table in front of a whiteboard

Practicing with your Chinese teacher is a great way to gain a nuanced understanding of the language.

9. 当然 | dāngrán | of course

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

For example:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你会游泳吗?Nǐ huì yóuyǒng ma?Do you know how to swim?
B:当然。Dāngrán.Yes, of course.

10. “Yes” in other situations

One of the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese is not a specific word at all. Rather, it’s a Chinese grammatical structure that involves expressing agreement by repeating the main verb or adjective in the question asked.

Because responding requires the ability to recognize keywords in a question, this method works best for learners who already have some basic Chinese vocabulary under their belts.

This repetition-based method is most commonly used with verbs. Thus, even if you’re a beginner without a large Chinese vocabulary, you’ll still be able to use this method so long as you’ve mastered commonly used Chinese verbs like 要 (yào, to want), 有 (yǒu, to have) and 会 (huì, to be able to).

The following three examples show these common Chinese verbs in action:

Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你要吃火锅吗?Nǐ yào chī huǒguō ma?Do you want to eat hotpot?
B:要!Yào!Yes!
Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:这里有人吗?Zhè li yǒu rén ma?Is there someone sitting here?
B:有。Yǒu.Yes.
Speaker汉字PinyinEnglish
A:你会开车吗?Nǐ huì kāichē ma?Can you drive?
B:会。Huì.Yes, I can.

This grammar-based method for saying “yes” 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 resulting in an affirmative response:

Speaker汉字`PinyinEnglish
A:你觉得好看吗?Nǐ juédé hǎokàn ma?Do you think this looks good?
B:好看。Hǎokàn.Yes, it looks good.
a student holding an ancient Chinese instrument while his teacher looks on

Learning how to say “yes” in context-appropriate ways will help you avoid being misunderstood.

Just say “yes!”

Saying “yes” is one of the most important skills that beginning students of the Chinese language should learn. We hope that the above explanations and examples will help you in your quest to respond to questions like a native.

Getting a feel for which form of “yes” to use in any given situation takes time and practice. If you still feel confused about when to use which word or phrase, we recommend that you try watching some Chinese TV shows. Listening carefully to the dialogue between the characters is a great way to gain insight into which forms of “yes” feel most natural in various different contexts.

Now that you know some of the most common ways to say “yes” in Chinese, don’t forget to practice and solidify your new knowledge by communicating with native Chinese speakers, either online or in person.

Remember, 熟能生巧 (shúnéngshēngqiǎo, practice makes perfect)!

Now that you know how to say "yes," why not continue exploring the essentials of everyday communication in Chinese by checking out our article on how to say "no" in Chinese or exploring the wonderful world of Chinese measure words?

Essential Vocabulary for Saying Yes in Chinese

HànzìPīnyīnDefinition
shìto be (verb); yes (in certain contexts)
是的shìdeyes, that's right/correct
duìyes, that's right/correct
没错méicuòyes, that's right/correct/true
hǎoOK; fine
好的hǎo deOK; will do
好呀hǎo yaOK! (sounds excited/enthusiastic)
好吧hǎo baOK (sounds reluctant)
好了hǎoleyep! (positive); OK, OK (sounds exasperated)
可以kěyǐyes, you can
xíngOK; all right
ènuh-huh; yeah
没问题méiwèntíno problem
当然dāngránof course; certainly
yàoto want (verb); yes (in certain contexts)
yǒuto have (verb); yes (in certain contexts)
huìto be able to (verb); yes (in certain contexts)

Free 30-minute Trial Lesson

Free 30-minute Trial Lesson

Continue Exploring

Learn Chinese in China and join the CLI community!
Based in scenic Guilin, China, CLI is a leading center for Chinese language and cultural studies.