Difference between revisions of "Expressing "must" with "dei""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
Learning how to use 得 (děi) to mean "must" must be done by those wishing to master Chinese!
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The auxiliary verb 得 (děi) means "must." Yes, it's annoying that the same character can also be pronounced "de," but at least when you use 得 (děi), there's no [[Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings|ambiguity like with the word 要 (yào)]].
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
Normally when you see 得 it's a particle and is pronounced "de." However, it can also be an [[auxiliary verb]]. In this case it's pronounced ''děi'' and means "must."  
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Normally, when you see 得, it's a particle and is pronounced "de." However, it can also be an [[auxiliary verb]]. In this case it's pronounced "děi" and means "must."  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>děi</em> zǒu le.</span><span class="trans">We have to leave.</span>
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*我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>děi</em> zǒu le.</span><span class="trans">We have to leave now.</span>
 
*时间 不 早 了,我 <em>得</em> 回家 了。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ <em>děi</em> huíjiā le.</span><span class="trans">It's getting late. I have to go home.</span>
 
*时间 不 早 了,我 <em>得</em> 回家 了。<span class="pinyin">Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ <em>děi</em> huíjiā le.</span><span class="trans">It's getting late. I have to go home.</span>
*他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 <em>得</em> 帮 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ <em>de</em> bāng tā.</span><span class="trans">He is your younger brother. You must help him.</span>
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*他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 <em>得</em> 帮 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ <em>děi</em> bāng tā.</span><span class="trans">He is your younger brother. You must help him.</span>
*不 好意思 ,你 <em>得</em> 马上 离开 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ <em>děi</em> mǎshàng líkāi.</span><span class="trans">Sorry, you have to get out of here right now.</span>
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*不好意思 ,你 <em>得</em> 马上 离开 。<span class="pinyin">Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ <em>děi</em> mǎshàng líkāi.</span><span class="trans">Excuse me, but you have to leave here right now.</span>
 
*在 学校 就 <em>得</em> 听 老师 的 话 。<span class="pinyin">Zài xuéxiào jiù <em>děi</em> tīng lǎoshī de huà.</span><span class="trans">You have to listen to the teacher at school.</span>
 
*在 学校 就 <em>得</em> 听 老师 的 话 。<span class="pinyin">Zài xuéxiào jiù <em>děi</em> tīng lǎoshī de huà.</span><span class="trans">You have to listen to the teacher at school.</span>
*你 <em>得</em> 先 付钱 再 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>děi</em> xiān fù qián zài jìn.</span><span class="trans">You need to pay before you come inside.</span>
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*你 <em>得</em> 先 付钱 再 进去 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>děi</em> xiān fù qián zài jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">You need to pay before you go in.</span>
 
*是 你 的 错 ,你 <em>得</em> 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ <em>děi</em> dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">It's your fault. You must apologize.</span>
 
*是 你 的 错 ,你 <em>得</em> 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ <em>děi</em> dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">It's your fault. You must apologize.</span>
 
*他 没有 经验 ,你 <em>得</em> 教教 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ <em>děi</em> jiāojiao tā.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.</span>
 
*他 没有 经验 ,你 <em>得</em> 教教 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ <em>děi</em> jiāojiao tā.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.</span>
 
*明天 去 面试 ,你 <em>得</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ <em>děi</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.</span>
 
*明天 去 面试 ,你 <em>得</em> 穿 得 正式 一点 。<span class="pinyin">Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ <em>děi</em> chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.</span>
*你 病 得 太 厉害 了,<em>得</em>去 看 医生。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, <em>děi</em> qù kàn yīshēng.</span><span class="trans">You are badly ill. You must go see a doctor.</span>
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*你 病 得 太 厉害 了,<em>得</em> 去 看 医生。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, <em>děi</em> qù kàn yīshēng.</span><span class="trans">You are really sick. You must go see a doctor.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 164-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|164-5}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)]] (p. 301)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册)|301}}
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|得 + Verb|我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。|grammar point|ASGPXLP9}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|得 + Verb|我们 <em>得</em> 走 了 。|grammar point|ASGPXLP9}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing obligations}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing obligations}}
 
{{Used for|Giving commands}}
 
{{Used for|Giving commands}}
{{POS|Verb phrases}}
 
{{Similar|"Would like to" with xiang}}
 
{{Similar|Wanting to do something with "yao"}}
 
{{Similar|auxiliary verb}}
 
 
{{Similar|"Yinggai" for should}}
 
{{Similar|"Yinggai" for should}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "don't need to" with "buyong"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "have to" with budebu}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "have to" with budebu}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing “must" with "feidei"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing “must" with "feidei"}}
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{{Translation|must}}
 
{{Translation|must}}
 
{{Translation|need}}
 
{{Translation|need}}
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{{POS|Verbs}}
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{{Subprop|Auxiliary verbs}}

Latest revision as of 07:38, 22 April 2019

The auxiliary verb 得 (děi) means "must." Yes, it's annoying that the same character can also be pronounced "de," but at least when you use 得 (děi), there's no ambiguity like with the word 要 (yào).

Structure

Normally, when you see 得, it's a particle and is pronounced "de." However, it can also be an auxiliary verb. In this case it's pronounced "děi" and means "must."

Subj. + 得 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 我们 走 了 。Wǒmen děi zǒu le.We have to leave now.
  • 时间 不 早 了,我 回家 了。Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ děi huíjiā le.It's getting late. I have to go home.
  • 他 是 你 弟弟 ,你 帮 他 。Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ děi bāng tā.He is your younger brother. You must help him.
  • 不好意思 ,你 马上 离开 。Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ děi mǎshàng líkāi.Excuse me, but you have to leave here right now.
  • 在 学校 就 听 老师 的 话 。Zài xuéxiào jiù děi tīng lǎoshī de huà.You have to listen to the teacher at school.
  • 先 付钱 再 进去 。děi xiān fù qián zài jìnqù.You need to pay before you go in.
  • 是 你 的 错 ,你 道歉 。Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ děi dàoqiàn.It's your fault. You must apologize.
  • 他 没有 经验 ,你 教教 他 。Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ děi jiāojiao tā.He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.
  • 明天 去 面试 ,你 穿 得 正式 一点 。Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ děi chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview.
  • 你 病 得 太 厉害 了, 去 看 医生。Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, děi qù kàn yīshēng.You are really sick. You must go see a doctor.

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books