乃是 (nǎi shì) — to be (formal, literary, often with emphasis)

Definition

乃是的 verb meaning 'is / none other than' is far more formal and literary than the everyday 是, and is typically used in writing to emphasize identity (especially in definitions or weighty statements).

verb
to be (formal, literary, often with emphasis)

Examples

  • 乃是。
    Zhè nǎi shì yí gè zhòng yào de zhuǎn zhé diǎn.
    This is an important turning point.
  • 乃是。
    Tā nǎi shì wǒ guó zuì yōu xiù de yùn dòng yuán zhī yī.
    He is one of the best athletes in our country.
  • 乃是。
    Xué xí nǎi shì zhōng shēn de shì yè.
    Learning is a lifelong career.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

乃nǎibe
是shìbe

乃 and 是 both mean be, forming a formal way to say something is so.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乃 is uncertain: it may have drawn a sideways person, a rope, a thrown rope, or a pulling motion.

Open 乃 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

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