Yes in Chinese and No in Chinese: How to Answer Naturally

沉浸 TeamAugust 6, 20264 min read

Here's the surprise about yes in Chinese: there's no single word for "yes," and no single word for "no" either. Instead, you answer a question by echoing its verb. Still, four little words, 是 (shì), 对 (duì), 好 (hǎo), and 嗯 (èn), will cover most everyday situations.

Once you see how the echo system works, answering questions in Mandarin becomes easier than in English, not harder. This post breaks it down, and it's part of our essential Chinese phrases guide for beginners.

The echo rule: answer with the verb

To say yes, repeat the main verb of the question. To say no, put 不 (bù) in front of that verb.

你去吗? (Nǐ qù ma? Are you going?) Yes: 去 (qù). No: 不去 (bú qù).
你饿吗? (Nǐ è ma? Are you hungry?) Yes: 饿 (è). No: 不饿 (bú è).
你要茶吗? (Nǐ yào chá ma? Do you want tea?) Yes: 要 (yào). No: 不要 (bú yào).

That's the whole system. Everything below is just the most useful shortcuts built on top of it.

How to say yes in Chinese

是 (shì) or 是的 (shì de): "that's so." Use it to confirm facts and identity, like "Are you a student?" It's the verb "to be," so it only works as "yes" when the question used 是.
对 (duì): "correct, that's right." The go-to word for confirming information: dates, names, directions. You'll hear 对对对 in fast conversation.
好 (hǎo) or 好的 (hǎo de): "okay, sure." This is agreement to do something: an invitation, a plan, a request.
行 (xíng): "that works." Casual approval of a suggestion.
可以 (kěyǐ): "you may, that's allowed." The yes for permission questions.
嗯 (èn): a casual "mm-hm." Fine with friends and in texts, too casual for strangers or your boss.

How to say no in Chinese

The same idea in reverse. Most "no" answers are 不 (bù) plus a verb:

不 + verb: 不去 (bú qù, not going), 不要 (bú yào, don't want it).
不是 (bú shì): "that's not so." The no for facts and identity.
不对 (bú duì): "not right, incorrect." For correcting information.
不行 (bùxíng): "not okay, no can do." A firm refusal of a plan or request.
没有 (méiyǒu): the no for past actions and possession. "Did you eat?" 没有. "Do you have a pen?" 没有. Never use 不 to deny a past action; 没有 is the only correct choice there.
不用 (búyòng): "no need." The polite way to decline an offer of help.

The classic mistake: saying 是 to everything

English speakers love to answer every question with 是, since it gets glossed as "yes." But if a waiter asks 你要茶吗? (Do you want tea?) and you say 是, it sounds off, like answering "do you want tea?" with "that is true."

The fix is the echo rule. The question's verb was 要 (yào, to want), so the natural yes is 要 or a friendly 好. Save 是 for questions that contain 是.

A quick tone note: 不 changes tone

不 is normally fourth tone (bù). But before another fourth-tone syllable, it switches to second tone (bú). That's why you say bú shì, bú duì, and bú yào, but bùxíng stays bù, since 行 is second tone. It happens automatically in speech; you'll pick it up fast by listening.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chinese word for yes?

There isn't one exact word. The closest all-purpose options are 是 (shì) for confirming facts, 对 (duì) for "that's right," and 好 (hǎo) for agreeing to do something. The most natural yes is repeating the question's verb.

How do you say no in Mandarin?

Put 不 (bù) before the verb: 不去 (not going), 不要 (don't want). For past actions and possession, use 没有 (méiyǒu) instead. For "not allowed" or "won't work," use 不行 (bùxíng).

What's the difference between 是 and 对?

是 is the verb "to be," so it confirms identity and statements made with 是. 对 means "correct" and confirms information of any kind. In casual conversation, 对 is the more flexible of the two.

Does 嗯 count as a real yes?

Yes, in casual settings. 嗯 (èn) works like "mm-hm" in English: perfect with friends and in chat apps, but too relaxed for formal situations.

The fastest way to make these stick is spaced repetition. Create a free Chenjin account to save words like 对, 行, and 没有 as flashcards and review them right as you're about to forget them.