🗣 是的 shì de vs 对 duì – What’s the Difference?

Both 是的 shì de and 对 duì can mean “yes” — but they don’t always feel the same. 🧐

Good news? They’re often interchangeable. Better news? You’re about to learn when to use which — with examples and a fun quiz at the end!

🔍  Breakdown

🟡 是的 (shì de) – “Yes, it is.”

• Polite and complete

• Used to confirm a fact

• Sounds more formal, thoughtful, or respectful

📌 Often used in:

• Full answers

• Formal conversations

• When you want to sound polite

🟢 对 (duì) – “Yes” / “Right”

• Casual and quick

• Used to confirm someone’s opinion or feeling. 

• Sounds more relaxed or everyday

📌 Often used in:

• Quick replies

• Friendly chats 

• Confirming somebody is right

💬  Easy Examples

🟢 They can both work!

Example 1:

- 明天是星期五吗？

(Míngtiān shì xīngqīwǔ ma?)

→ Is tomorrow Friday?

✔ A: 是的。Shì de。

👉 More standard and a bit formal, confirming the fact itself.

✔ A: 对。Duì。

👉 More casual and quick, confirming that what the other person said is correct.

Example 2:

- 学习中文需要多练习。

(Xuéxí Zhōngwén xūyào duō liànxí.)

→ Learning Chinese requires lots of practice.

✔ A: 是的。Shì de。

👉 Agreeing with a fact or statement.

✔ A: 对。Duì。

👉 Emphasizing agreement with the speaker’s opinion or feeling.

Example 3:

- 你昨天去图书馆了，是吧？

(Nǐ zuótiān qù túshūguǎn le, shì ba?)

→ You went to the library yesterday, right?

✔ A: 是的。Shì de。

👉 Clearly confirms the info is correct.

✔ A: 对。Duì。

👉 Quickly confirms the speaker’s assumption.

🎯  Try It Yourself!

Answer the questions with 是的 shì de or 对 duì.

1. 他是你哥哥吗？

(Tā shì nǐ gēge ma?)

👉 Is he your older brother?

✅ Correct answer: Both work!

📝 是的 is confirming the fact itself.

对 is confirming what the other person said is correct.

2. 你昨天去看电影了，是吧？

(Nǐ zuótiān qù kàndiànyǐng le, shì ba?)

→ You went to see a movie yesterday, right?

✅ Correct answer: Both work!

📝 是的 clearly confirms the information is accurate.

对 quickly confirms the speaker’s assumption.

🚀 Final Tip

• 📌 是的 (shìde) is more formal and confirms a fact.

• 📌 对 (duì) is more casual and agrees with someone’s opinion or feeling.

🎯 Try answering simple yes/no questions using both words — and notice the difference in tone!

Just one word can flip your meaning — don’t miss the rest of the series! 👉 check them out here! 😄📘