Introduction
是……的 (shì … de) wrapped around 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) says what you came for: 我是来学中文的。(Wǒ shì lái xué Zhōngwén de.) — I'm here to study Chinese. The trip is already known; the frame supplies the purpose.
Overview
Structure: Person + 是 (shì) + 来 (lái) / 去 (qù) + Verb + 的 (de)
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 是 + 来 + V + 的 | 我是来学中文的。(Wǒ shì lái xué Zhōngwén de.) | I'm here to study Chinese. |
| 是 + 去 + V + 的 | 他是去买东西的。(Tā shì qù mǎi dōngxi de.) | He's gone out to do some shopping. |
| 是 + 来 + V + O + 的 | 我是来找王老师的。(Wǒ shì lái zhǎo Wáng lǎoshī de.) | I've come to see Mr Wang. |
| 不是 + 来 + V + 的 | 我不是来玩儿的。(Wǒ bú shì lái wánr de.) | I'm not here to mess about. |
| 是……的？（question） | 你是来做什么的？(Nǐ shì lái zuò shénme de?) | What have you come for? |
Two jobs for one frame — which detail is inside it?
- 我是昨天来的。(Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de.) — It was yesterday that I came. The frame holds a time, so it emphasises when.
- 我是来学中文的。(Wǒ shì lái xué Zhōngwén de.) — I came to study Chinese. The frame holds 来 plus a verb, so it gives the purpose.
- Either way the 的 (de) is compulsory and the 是 (shì) may be dropped: 我来学中文的。(Wǒ lái xué Zhōngwén de.)
- The negative always keeps 是 (shì): 我不是来玩儿的。(Wǒ bú shì lái wánr de.)
Examples
我是来学中文的。
Wǒ shì lái xué Zhōngwén de.
I'm here to study Chinese.
他是去买东西的。
Tā shì qù mǎi dōngxi de.
He's gone out to do some shopping.
我是来找王老师的。
Wǒ shì lái zhǎo Wáng lǎoshī de.
I've come to see Mr Wang.
你是来做什么的？
Nǐ shì lái zuò shénme de?
What have you come for?
我不是来玩儿的，我是来工作的。
Wǒ bú shì lái wánr de, wǒ shì lái gōngzuò de.
I'm not here for fun, I'm here to work.
他们是来看你的。
Tāmen shì lái kàn nǐ de.
They've come to see you.
Usage Notes
- The purpose verb goes after 来 (lái) or 去 (qù), never before: ✓ 来学中文 (lái xué Zhōngwén) ❌ 学中文来 (xué Zhōngwén lái).
- 来 (lái) is towards the speaker, 去 (qù) away from them. Which one you use depends on where you are standing, not on the purpose.
- Without the 是……的 frame the sentence still works and simply sounds more neutral: 我来学中文。(Wǒ lái xué Zhōngwén.)
- 是 (shì) is 4th tone, so 不 becomes bú — bú shì.
- This frame, like the one for emphasis, only describes a trip that has already happened or is happening now. For a plan, drop it: 我明天去买东西。(Wǒ míngtiān qù mǎi dōngxi.)