Noun + 是 + Adjective/Noun + 的
Use 是...的 here to identify what kind of thing or person something is, or to describe a stable quality: 奶茶是甜的 (the milk tea is sweet), 老师是女的 (the teacher is a woman). This is description or classification, not the separate 是...的 pattern that highlights when, where, or how a completed event happened.
Structure
[NOUN] 是 [DESCRIPTION / CATEGORY] 的
shì...de
How to Think About It
The phrase after 是 supplies a label or quality, and 的 closes that description.
Examples
奶茶是甜的。
Nǎichá shì tián de.
The milk tea is sweet.
老师是女的。
Lǎoshī shì nǚ de.
The teacher is a woman.
这本书是新的。
Zhè běn shū shì xīn de.
This book is new.
这件衣服是我的。
Zhè jiàn yīfu shì wǒ de.
This item of clothing is mine.
小明是三年级的学生。
Xiǎomíng shì sān niánjí de xuésheng.
Xiaoming is a third-grade student.
Common Mistake
Description/classification and completed-event emphasis look similar on the surface but answer different questions.
我是昨天的。
我是昨天来的。 / 奶茶是甜的。
Don't Confuse With
是...的 (completed-event emphasis)
Highlights when, where, how, or who performed an already-known action.
Practice
奶茶是甜___。
Show answer
的
Arrange: 是 / 新 / 这本书 / 的
Show answer
这本书是新的。
Translate: This coat is mine.
Show answer
这件外套是我的。
Which describes a quality: 她是昨天来的 / 这杯茶是热的?
Show answer
这杯茶是热的。
Describe one object with 是 + adjective + 的.
Show answer
这台电脑是新的。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes. Press play to hear the sentence:
小明是三年级的学生。
Xiao Ming is a third-grade student.
Trump and Iran: Who Backs Down First?Beginner
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear Noun + 是 + Adjective/Noun + 的 in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start.