Difference between revisions of "Expressing close possession without "de""

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Normally [[Expressing possession|possession]] is expressed with the [[particle]] 的. However, in some cases you can omit 的. This happens when the possession is about:
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{{Grammar Box}}
  
* A close personal relationship (family and close friends)
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[[Expressing possession with "de"|Expressing possession]] in Chinese is accomplished with the particle [[的]] (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).
* An institutional or organization membership
 
  
In these cases 的 '''should be''' omitted (that is, it's not just optional - it'll sound odd if you put it in).
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== Structure ==
  
Some examples:
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<div class="jiegou">
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Pronoun + Noun
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</div>
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Normally [[Expressing possession with "de"|possession]] is expressed using the [[particle]] 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:
 +
 
 +
* A close personal relationship is involved (family, close friends, boyfriends or girlfriends)
 +
* An institutional or organizational relationship is involved (school, work)
 +
 
 +
In these cases 的 (de) '''should be''' omitted. It doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in.
 +
 
 +
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 妈妈。
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* <em>家</em> 很 大。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ jiā</em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">My house is very big.</span>
* 我 女朋友。
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* <em>你 哥哥</em> 很 高 。<span class="pinyin"><Em> Nǐ gēge</em> hěn gāo.</span><span class="trans">Your big brother is very tall.</span>
* 我们学校。
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* 这 是 <em>女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my girlfriend.</span>
* 他 爸爸。
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* <em>她 妈妈</em> 很 漂亮。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā māma</em> hěn piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">Her mom is very pretty.</span>
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* <em>我们 学校</em> 很 大 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒmen xuéxiào</em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">Our school is big.</span>
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* <em>他们 公司</em> 在 北京。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tāmen gōngsī</em> zài Běijīng.</span><span class="trans">Their company is in Bejing.</span>
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* <em>你 男朋友</em> 很 帅。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ nánpéngyou</em> hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend is very handsome.</span>
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* <em>他 儿子</em> 很 有名。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā érzi</em> hěn yǒumíng.</span><span class="trans">His son is really famous.</span>
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* <em>我 女儿</em> 会 说 英语。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ nǚ'ér</em> huì shuō Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">My daughter can speak English.</span>
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* <em>爸爸</em> 是 <em>我们 公司</em> 的 老板。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā bàba</em> shì <em>wǒmen gōngsī</em> de lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">His dad is the boss of our company.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
If 的 was used in the above examples, it would create a sense of distance between the two, and imply that the relationship is not particularly close.
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If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two.
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==See also==
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*[[Expressing possession with "de"]]
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*[[Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"]]
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*[[Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|24}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|76}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|31}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|87}}
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{Used for|Expressing possession}}
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{{Basic Grammar|的|A1|Pronoun + Noun|我 女朋友|grammar point|ASGCI0KG}}
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{{Similar|Expressing possession with "de"}}
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{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"}}
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{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"}} 
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{{POS|Particles}}
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{{Translation|My}}
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{{Translation|His}}
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{{Translation|Her}}
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{{Translation|Their}}
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{{Translation|Our}}

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

Expressing possession in Chinese is accomplished with the particle (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).

Structure

Pronoun + Noun

Normally possession is expressed using the particle 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:

  • A close personal relationship is involved (family, close friends, boyfriends or girlfriends)
  • An institutional or organizational relationship is involved (school, work)

In these cases 的 (de) should be omitted. It doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in.

Examples

  • 我 家 很 大。Wǒ jiā hěn dà.My house is very big.
  • 你 哥哥 很 高 。 Nǐ gēge hěn gāo.Your big brother is very tall.
  • 这 是 我 女朋友Zhè shì wǒ nǚpéngyou.This is my girlfriend.
  • 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。Tā māma hěn piàoliang.Her mom is very pretty.
  • 我们 学校 很 大 。Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.Our school is big.
  • 他们 公司 在 北京。Tāmen gōngsī zài Běijīng.Their company is in Bejing.
  • 你 男朋友 很 帅。Nǐ nánpéngyou hěn shuài.Your boyfriend is very handsome.
  • 他 儿子 很 有名。Tā érzi hěn yǒumíng.His son is really famous.
  • 我 女儿 会 说 英语。Wǒ nǚ'ér huì shuō Yīngyǔ.My daughter can speak English.
  • 他 爸爸我们 公司 的 老板。Tā bàba shì wǒmen gōngsī de lǎobǎn.His dad is the boss of our company.

If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books