Effects of nonlinear terms on the generation of M$_2$ tide residual elevation and M$_4$ tide in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are investigated using a depth-integrated two-dimensional nonlinear M$_2$tidal model. The model domain (117$^{circ}$E-130$^{circ}$E, 24$^{circ}$N-41$^{circ}$N) covers the whole region of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea with grid resolution of 1/6$^{circ}$ in longitude and 1/8$^{circ}$in latitude. A radiational boundary condition is used along the open boundaries. Calculations show that advection terms yield negative residual elevation, while shallow-water terms in continuity equation yield positive residual elevation. The contribution of both advection terms and shallow-water terms to tile generation of the M$_4$ constituent is more than 90 percents, but that of quadratic bottom friction terms to the M$_4$ constituent is comparatively small.