si6昰
Jyutpingsi6
Yalesih
Definition
Variant of 是 (si6), meaning to be, yes, or correct.
datedother
How it's used
The character 昰 is a rare, non-standard variant of 係 and is almost never used in modern written or spoken Cantonese. Native speakers exclusively use 係 to represent the copula 'to be'. Using 昰 in any context will likely be perceived as a typo or an archaic affectation.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners should strictly avoid using 昰 in any writing or digital communication. It is not a recognized character in standard Cantonese orthography and will cause confusion.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
