Meaning of 正是
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- is precisely
How to use 正是
正是 adds emphasis to say something is precisely the thing in question, often to confirm or agree. It also works alone as a reply meaning "exactly". Example: 这正是我想要的。(Zhè zhèng shì wǒ xiǎng yào de.) This is exactly what I wanted.
正 (zhèng) means straight or exactly, and 是 (shì) means to be. Put them together and you get "is exactly", like hitting the target dead center.
Common mistake: Learners mix up 正是 (zhèngshì) with 正在 (zhèngzài), but 正在 marks an action in progress, while 正是 confirms identity. Also avoid confusing it with 真是 (zhēnshi, really), which expresses feeling rather than precision.
正是 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
正 zhèng · straight · 5 strokes
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是 shì · to be · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 正是.
| 还是 | háishi | still (as before); had better |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 正在 | zhèngzài | to be in the process of (doing sth); to be currently ...-ing |
| 但是 | dànshì | but; however |
| 可是 | kěshì | but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed |
| 真正 | zhēnzhèng | genuine; real; true; really; indeed |
| 正常 | zhèngcháng | normal; regular |
| 正确 | zhèngquè | correct; sound; right; proper |
| 正好 | zhènghǎo | just (in time); just right |
| 老是 | lǎoshì | always |
| 就是 | jiùshì | exactly; precisely; only; simply; just |
| 只是 | zhǐshì | merely; only; just; nothing but; simply |
Questions about 正是
What does 正是 mean?
正是 (zhèngshì) means "is precisely" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 正是?
正是 is made of 2 characters: 正 (5 strokes), 是 (9 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 正是 an HSK word?
Yes. 正是 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can 正是 be used by itself as an answer?
Yes. If someone asks a question to confirm something, you can reply 正是 to mean "Exactly" or "That's right". It sounds a little more formal than 对 (duì).
What is the difference between 正是 and 就是?
Both can mean "is exactly", and 就是 (jiù shì) is more common in casual speech. 正是 sounds slightly more formal and stresses a precise match, as in 正是时候 (zhèng shì shíhou), just the right time.