Simplified Chinese - Lesson 21 of 156: Simple Yes-No Responses

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

对

Duì.

Yes.

Meaning: Yes.

When to use: Use 对 (Duì) to give a short, neutral affirmative—especially to confirm facts or answers.

A：这是你的包吗？B：对。

A: Zhè shì nǐ de bāo ma? B: Duì.

A: Is this your bag? B: Yes.

他问我是不是学生，我说：对。

Tā wèn wǒ shì bu shì xuésheng, wǒ shuō: Duì.

He asked if I’m a student. I said: Yes.

不是

Bú shì.

No.

Meaning: No.

When to use: Use 不是 (Bú shì) to answer “Is it ...?” or to negate identity/description.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say 不 (Bù) alone for identity questions—use 不是 for "is it..." questions.

A：你是老师吗？B：不是。

A: Nǐ shì lǎoshī ma? B: Bú shì.

A: Are you a teacher? B: No.

那不是我的杯子，对吧？不是。

Nà bú shì wǒ de bēizi, duì ba? Bú shì.

That’s not my cup, right? No.

好的，谢谢

Hǎo de, xièxie.

Yes, please.

Meaning: Yes, please.

When to use: Use 好的，谢谢 (Hǎo de, xièxie) to politely accept an offer (drinks, help, directions).

服务员说要加茶吗？我回答：好的，谢谢。

Fúwùyuán shuō yào jiā chá ma? Wǒ huídá: Hǎo de, xièxie.

The server asked to top up my tea. I answered: Yes, thank you.

你要咖啡吗？好的，谢谢。

Nǐ yào kāfēi ma? Hǎo de, xièxie.

Do you want coffee? Yes, please.

不用了，谢谢

Bú yòng le, xièxie.

No, thank you.

Meaning: No, thank you.

When to use: Use 不用了，谢谢 (Bú yòng le, xièxie) to politely decline an offer without sounding rude.

有人递给你餐巾纸你不需要，你说：不用了，谢谢。

Yǒurén dì gěi nǐ cānjīnzhǐ nǐ bù xūyào, nǐ shuō: Bú yòng le, xièxie.

Someone offers you a napkin but you don’t need it. You say: No, thank you.

老师问还要茶吗？我说：不用了，谢谢。

Lǎoshī wèn hái yào chá ma? Wǒ shuō: Bú yòng le, xièxie.

The teacher asked if I want more tea. I said: No, thank you.

行

xíng.

Sure.

Meaning: Sure.

When to use: Use 行 (xíng) for casual agreement or willingness, among friends or in spoken contexts.

A：我们明天一起去吗？B：行。

A: Wǒmen míngtiān yìqǐ qù ma? B: Xíng.

A: Shall we go together tomorrow? B: Sure.

他说可以改时间，我就回答：行。

Tā shuō kěyǐ gǎi shíjiān, wǒ jiù huídá: Xíng.

He said we can change the time, I replied: Sure.

对，我是

duì, wǒ shì.

Yes, I am.

Meaning: Yes, I am.

When to use: Use 对，我是 (Duì, wǒ shì) to confirm identity or that a description applies to you.

A：你是王先生吗？B：对，我是。

A: Nǐ shì Wáng xiānsheng ma? B: Duì, wǒ shì.

A: Are you Mr. Wang? B: Yes, I am.

有人说你是司机，你回答：对，我是。

Yǒurén shuō nǐ shì sījī, nǐ huídá: Duì, wǒ shì.

Someone says you are the driver. You answer: Yes, I am.

不，我不是

bù, wǒ bú shì.

No, I'm not.

Meaning: No, I'm not.

When to use: Use 不，我不是 (Bù, wǒ bú shì) to deny identity clearly and politely.

A：你是我的老师吗？B：不，我不是。

A: Nǐ shì wǒ de lǎoshī ma? B: Bù, wǒ bú shì.

A: Are you my teacher? B: No, I'm not.

有人以为你是服务员，你说：不，我不是。

Yǒurén yǐwéi nǐ shì fúwùyuán, nǐ shuō: Bù, wǒ bú shì.

Someone thinks you’re a server. You say: No, I'm not.

对，是的

duì, shì de.

Yes, I do.

Meaning: Yes, I do.

When to use: Use 对，是的 (Duì, shì de) to agree about actions, habits, or possession in a clear way.

A：你常常去图书馆吗？B：对，是的。

A: Nǐ chángcháng qù túshūguǎn ma? B: Duì, shì de.

A: Do you often go to the library? B: Yes, I do.

你问我有没有钥匙，我说：对，是的。

Nǐ wèn wǒ yǒu méiyǒu yàoshi, wǒ shuō: Duì, shì de.

You ask if I have the key. I say: Yes, I do.

不，没有

bù, méi yǒu.

No, I don't.

Meaning: No, I don't.

When to use: Use 不，没有 (Bù, méi yǒu) to say you don’t have something or didn’t do something; it’s natural for possession and many yes/no answers.

Tip: Learners sometimes try to use 不是 for possession—use 不，没有 for "don't have".

A：你有笔记本吗？B：不，没有。

A: Nǐ yǒu bǐjìběn ma? B: Bù, méi yǒu.

A: Do you have a notebook? B: No, I don't.

他说他有票，我说：不，没有。

Tā shuō tā yǒu piào, wǒ shuō: Bù, méi yǒu.

He said he has a ticket. I say: No, I don't.

不太

bú tài.

Not really.

Meaning: Not really.

When to use: Use 不太 (Bú tài) to give a soft negative, often followed by a verb or adjective (e.g., 不太喜欢).

你喜欢辣吗？不太。

Nǐ xǐhuan là ma? Bú tài.

Do you like spicy food? Not really.

他问我忙不忙，我说：不太。

Tā wèn wǒ máng bu máng, wǒ shuō: Bú tài.

He asked if I'm busy. I said: Not really.

好

Hǎo.

Okay.

Meaning: Okay.

When to use: Use 好 (Hǎo) for a simple acceptance or to show you agree; 好的 is slightly more polite.

A：我们现在走吧。B：好。

A: Wǒmen xiànzài zǒu ba. B: Hǎo.

A: Let's go now. B: Okay.

老师说晚十分钟开始，学生们回答：好。

Lǎoshī shuō wǎn shí fēnzhōng kāishǐ, xuéshengmen huídá: Hǎo.

The teacher said start in ten minutes; students replied: Okay.

行

Xíng.

All right.

Meaning: All right.

When to use: 行 (Xíng) is common in speech to show agreement or willingness; slightly casual but widely used.

A：我帮你买票。B：行，谢谢你。

A: Wǒ bāng nǐ mǎi piào. B: Xíng, xièxie nǐ.

A: I'll buy the ticket for you. B: All right, thanks.

如果你晚上来，行吗？行。

Rúguǒ nǐ wǎnshàng lái, xíng ma? Xíng.

If you come tonight, ok? All right.

应该是吧

Yīnggāi shì ba.

I think so.

Meaning: I think so.

When to use: Use 应该是吧 (Yīnggāi shì ba) to give an uncertain affirmative—it softens your certainty.

A：他现在在办公室吗？B：应该是吧。

A: Tā xiànzài zài bàngōngshì ma? B: Yīnggāi shì ba.

A: Is he in the office now? B: I think so.

明天会下雨吗？应该是吧，我听天气预报说有雨。

Míngtiān huì xiàyǔ ma? Yīnggāi shì ba, wǒ tīng tiānqì yùbào shuō yǒu yǔ.

Will it rain tomorrow? I think so; I heard the forecast.

Simplified Chinese - Simple Yes-No Responses

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase politely accepts an offer?

Which short reply means 'Not really'?

How do you say 'No, I'm not' to deny identity?

Which phrase expresses an uncertain 'I think so'?

The server puts coffee on the table and asks if you want more. You don't want it, so you politely say: No, thank you.

The teacher asks if you are Teacher Li. You are, so you answer: Yes, I am.

A friend asks if you have a phone. You don't, so you answer: No, I don't.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice