是 from HSK Level 1 Vocabulary List

The Chinese character 是 (shì) is composed of two parts: the radical 巳 (sì) and the phonetic component 氏 (shì). The radical 巳 originally meant "a snake" and was used to represent the concept of "time" or "season". The phonetic component 氏 originally meant "a clan" or "a family" and was used to represent the sound "shì". When combined, the two components form the character 是, which means "to be" or "to exist".The character 是 has a long history in Chinese writing and has been used in a variety of contexts. In ancient times, it was often used in religious texts to refer to the existence of gods or spirits. In modern times, it is commonly used in everyday speech and writing to express the idea of "being" or "existing". For example, the sentence "我是学生" (wǒ shì xuéshēng) means "I am a student".The character 是 is also used in a number of idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom "是可忍，孰不可忍" (shì kě rěn, shú bù kě rěn) means "If this can be tolerated, what cannot be tolerated?" This idiom is often used to express the idea that there are some things that are simply too outrageous to be tolerated.The character 是 is a versatile and important character in Chinese writing. It is used in a wide variety of contexts and has a rich history. By understanding the etymology of this character, HSK learners can gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese language and culture.