MaLaTang Posted October 27, 2011 at 06:46 PM Report Posted October 27, 2011 at 06:46 PM I know that 是 cannot be used to answer questions where 是 isnt the main verb ...consider the following example.. 你认识不认识他？ acceptable response= 认识or 不认识 你是不是中国人？ acceptable response= 是 or 不是 I have however, watched many mainland chinese television programs where the leader of a palace would order his or her subordinates to do something ,,for example...打扫房间！ and here the response is '是‘。 so， even though it isnt a response to a question, i guess it can still be used. the same thing with 不。 so, in spoken language, or in a written dialog, if person A tells person B to...for example..给我钱！。。。 CAN person B respond with '是’ or ‘不’？？？ Quote
xiaocai Posted October 27, 2011 at 06:53 PM Report Posted October 27, 2011 at 06:53 PM I don't know why but 是 sounds very submissive. I don't think many people will say it now. 好 is probably a better way to express positive response. Quote
creamyhorror Posted October 27, 2011 at 08:12 PM Report Posted October 27, 2011 at 08:12 PM here the response is '是‘。 so， even though it isnt a response to a question, i guess it can still be used Not really, it's only used like that by those obeying a command (which tends to happen in guzhuang shows and military settings). Think "遵命!" I wouldn't expect modern employees to say it to their boss. so, in spoken language, or in a written dialog, if person A tells person B to...for example..给我钱！。。。CAN person B respond with '是’ or ‘不’？？？ Neither. If person B said '是', he'd be implying he was subordinate to/serving person A. As xiaocai said, he could say '好(的)' to mean "I agree to do it." If he wanted to disagree, he would probably say '不给' or '不要'. Quote
WestTexas Posted October 28, 2011 at 03:49 AM Report Posted October 28, 2011 at 03:49 AM I find myself using 嗯 as my 'yes' answer to almost everything. I also use 行 and OK了 a lot 1 Quote
MaLaTang Posted October 28, 2011 at 05:09 AM Author Report Posted October 28, 2011 at 05:09 AM thanks and...yes, the only setting where i came across this was in 古装 programs. In spoken language, ive most often heard 好！as a response to a command. 'OK‘ and 'OK le' are also very common and i especially heard that response when i told the 出租车 司l my destination. But now im wondering why '了’ is added to the OK? why is 了used after OK in this response? Quote
WestTexas Posted October 28, 2011 at 06:44 AM Report Posted October 28, 2011 at 06:44 AM I don't really know either but some people think it's funny so I keep saying it Quote
MaLaTang Posted October 28, 2011 at 01:47 PM Author Report Posted October 28, 2011 at 01:47 PM could it be 'OK 啦' ??? Quote
kenny2006 Posted November 6, 2011 at 12:12 PM Report Posted November 6, 2011 at 12:12 PM Is that OK? （可以了吗？）， OK了（可以了） Quote
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