The particle 的
Whose, what kind, and which: 我的书, 红色的车, 我买的书.
的 de joins a describing word or phrase to the noun after it. Whatever stands before 的 describes what follows.
| What comes before 的 | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a pronoun or noun | 我的书 wǒ de shū | my book |
| 老师的车 lǎoshī de chē | the teacher's car | |
| an adjective | 漂亮的衣服 piàoliang de yīfu | pretty clothes |
| 很大的房子 hěn dà de fángzi | a very big house | |
| a verb phrase | 我买的书 wǒ mǎi de shū | the book I bought |
| 喜欢唱歌的人 xǐhuan chàng gē de rén | people who like singing |
- Tā shì wǒ zuì hǎo de péngyou.He's my best friend.
- Xǐhuan chàng gē de rén hěn duō.Lots of people like singing.
Without 的
A one-syllable adjective usually joins its noun directly: 好人 hǎo rén "a good person", 新书 xīn shū "a new book". 的 is also left out before family and the places one belongs to: 我妈妈, 我们学校.
Without the noun
When it's clear what you mean, the phrase with 的 stands alone: 红的 "the red one", 我的 "mine".
- Wǒ yào dà de.I want the big one.
- Zhè běn shū shì wǒ de.This book is mine.
的, 地 and 得
Three particles are all said de. 的 goes before a noun, 地 before a verb (认真地学习 "study conscientiously"), and 得 after a verb, to say how it is done (说得很好 "speaks well"). See How well: 得.
- Tā rènzhēn de xuéxí Hànyǔ.He studies Chinese conscientiously.
Cards from this guide
8 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
What does 的 do in 我买的书?
It makes 我买 "I bought" describe 书: "the book I bought".
How do you say "the teacher's car"?
老师的车 (lǎoshī de chē).
How do you say "a good person" without 的?
好人 (hǎo rén).
How do you say "I want the big one"?
我要大的 (wǒ yào dà de).
Where does "who like singing" go in "people who like singing"?
Before the noun, ending in 的: 喜欢唱歌的人.
Which de goes before a verb, as in "study conscientiously"?
地: 认真地学习.
How do you say "pretty clothes", with 漂亮 (pretty)?
漂亮的衣服 (piàoliang de yīfu).
Which de goes after a verb, as in "speaks well"?
得: 说得很好.