<p>Not a measure word. Just the usual meaning of "be".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T02:48:21.460Z
2014-12-21T02:48:21.460Z
Jessica
<p>The sentence is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>现在，中国网民总数已经超过美国人口总数，但美国网购人数占其全部人口的75%，中国则只有25%左右，而且，中国网购消费者年均消费额仅为美国消费者的1/5。于刚认为，这<strong>是</strong>差距， 更是中国电子商务的潜力。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is '是‘ in 这是差距 working as a 量词？Or should I read 'this is a disparity'? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T03:33:12.060Z
Jessica is right. Also: 这是...更是... could be seen as a *pattern*.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T03:53:38.127Z
Just curious.. How would you read it otherwise?
Wang Dingwei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T04:01:16.133Z
Well, Chinese nouns, I'm told, need 量词 which is why I thought this might be a sneaky use of 是 as a 量词. Failing that, I would have to read 'This is disparity' Or maybe make a (non-existant) new English adjective 'This is disparacious'
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T08:14:37.660Z
Why would 差距 take 是 as measure word? Since when is 是 a measure word?
imrek
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-21T22:29:35.133Z
Why did they not write '这是个差距’？ Or is '差距‘ an adjective here, then why did they not write '差距的’？
Pedroski
<grammar>
Is 是 being used as a measure word in this sentence?
# Is 是 being used as a measure word in this sentence?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-21)

The sentence is:

> 现在，中国网民总数已经超过美国人口总数，但美国网购人数占其全部人口的75%，中国则只有25%左右，而且，中国网购消费者年均消费额仅为美国消费者的1/5。于刚认为，这**是**差距， 更是中国电子商务的潜力。

Is '是‘ in 这是差距 working as a 量词？Or should I read 'this is a disparity'?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: username_4 is right. Also: 这是...更是... could be seen as a *pattern*.  
> **username_2**: Just curious.. How would you read it otherwise?  
> **username_0**: Well, Chinese nouns, I'm told, need 量词 which is why I thought this might be a sneaky use of 是 as a 量词. Failing that, I would have to read 'This is disparity' Or maybe make a (non-existant) new English adjective 'This is disparacious'  
> **username_3**: Why would 差距 take 是 as measure word? Since when is 是 a measure word?  
> **username_0**: Why did they not write '这是个差距’？ Or is '差距‘ an adjective here, then why did they not write '差距的’？  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-12-21. Score: 3

Not a measure word. Just the usual meaning of "be".


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