In business negotiations, a “yes” often indicates polite acceptance or the intention to consider a proposal, rather than a binding commitment. Agreement may be provisional, conditional, or subject to further internal approval.
affirmation of compliance
In education, students and teachers often use “是” to acknowledge understanding or respect authority rather than enthusiastic agreement. The “yes” may function more as an affirmation of compliance with social norms rather than a declaration of personal conviction.
Yes
The Chinese “yes” — often expressed as “是” — is a nuanced and context-dependent marker of agreement, consensus, or politeness. Deeply rooted in cultural values such as harmony, face, and hierarchy, the Chinese “yes” does not always signify outright affirmation, commitment, or unambiguous consent. Instead, it often functions as a social signal that indicates willingness to maintain harmony, respect social order, or avoid conflict rather than a firm promise or legal obligation.
Saying “No” Indirectly
In business negotiations, Chinese often refuse requests indirectly by expressing embarrassment, putting matters off, or speaking vaguely, rather than saying “no” directly: “I’m sorry, but I just found out I have other obligations this weekend,” may stand in for a polite refusal.
peculiar habit
East Asians, including the Chinese, have long held a reputation for their peculiar habit of preferring indirect communication when saying “no” to any direct request, as well as their preference for indirect communication against explicitly indicating what they want. More likely, this is so as to not cause a person to lose face, helping preserve the harmony deemed very important within any Chinese social group.