shi bu shi

                           是  不  是

是(shi) 不(bu) 是(shi) is a phrase that can be used to replace the question indicator 马(ma) in Chinese sentences. The character 是(shi) means yes, and the character 不(bu) means no, or reverses the meaning of another character, so 是(shi) 不(bu) 是(shi) means yes or no.

Ex: 你(ni) 是(shi) 不(bu) 是(shi) 老师(laoshi)？

       (Are you a teacher?)

                         you mei you

                          有    没    有

有(you) 没(mei) 有(you) is a substitute for 马(ma), just like 是(shi) 不(bu) 是(shi). 有(you) means have, and 没有(mei you) means do not have, so 有(you) 没(mei) 有(you) means do you or do you not have something.

Ex: 你(ni) 有(you) 没(mei) 有(you) 姐姐(jie jie)?

(Do you have an older sister?)

                                ji ge

                               几个

几(ji) 个(ge) means how many and can be used to ask others how many of something they have, specifically people.

Ex: 你(ni) 有(you) 几(ji)个(ge) 人(ren)?

(How many people are in your family?)

                                 he

                                 和

和(he) means and, and it is used the same way and would be used in the English language. You put 和(he) between chinese characters to indicate another, separate character, but it cannot be used right after a comma, unlike the word and.

Ex: 我(wo) 是(shi) 爸爸(baba) 和(he) 哥哥(gege)。

(I am a father and an older brother.)

                                 ye

                                 也

也(ye) means also in chinese. It is used similarly to also in the english language. It is indicative of a changing of subject or an addition to a sentence.

Ex:我(wo) 喜欢(xihuan) 茶(cha), 我(wo) 也(ye) 喜欢(xihuan) 咖啡(ka fei).

(I like tea, and I also like coffee.)

                                dou

                                 都

都(dou) means all. It is used in the exact same way that all is used in the English language. It describes a collective group of people.

Ex:他(ta) 们(men) 都(dou) 是(shi) 学生(xue sheng)

(They are all students.)

                              ke shi

                               可是

可是(ke shi) means but, and it is used to separate two opposite ideas in Chinese sentences, just like but in the English language.

Ex:他(ta) 有(you) 哥哥(gege)，可是(ke shi)她(ta) 没有(mei you) 哥哥(gege).

(He has an older brother, but she does not have an older brother.)