Difference between revisions of "Expressing possession with "de""
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| − | In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to 's (apostrophe "s") in English, but is used much more widely. | + | In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to "'s" (apostrophe "s") in English, but is used much more widely. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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| − | * 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="trans">my teacher</span> | + | * 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>de </em> lǎoshī</span><span class="trans">my teacher</span> |
| − | * 你 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="trans">your beer</span> | + | * 你 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>de </em> píjiǔ</span><span class="trans">your beer</span> |
| − | * 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="trans">his book</span> | + | * 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>de </em> shū</span><span class="trans">his book</span> |
| − | * 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span> | + | * 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>de </em> dōngxī</span><span class="trans">their stuff</span> |
| − | * 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span> | + | * 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="pinyin">小李 <em>的</em> 手机</span><span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span> |
| − | * 我们 <em>的</em> 茶<span class="trans">our tea</span> | + | * 我们 <em>的</em> 茶<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>de </em> chá</span><span class="trans">our tea</span> |
| − | * 我 家 <em>的</em> 小狗<span class="trans">my family's puppy</span> | + | * 我 家 <em>的</em> 小狗<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiā <em>de </em> xiǎo gǒu</span><span class="trans">my family's puppy</span> |
| − | * 公司 <em>的</em> 老板<span class="trans">the company's boss</span> | + | * 公司 <em>的</em> 老板<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī <em>de </em> lǎobǎn</span><span class="trans">the company's boss</span> |
| − | * 上海 <em>的</em> 美女<span class="trans">Shanghai's beautiful women</span> | + | * 上海 <em>的</em> 美女<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>de </em> měinǚ</span><span class="trans">Shanghai's beautiful women</span> |
| − | * 美女 <em>的</em> 朋友<span class="trans">the beautiful woman's friend</span> | + | * 美女 <em>的</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin">Měinǚ <em>de </em> péngyǒu</span><span class="trans">the beautiful woman's friend</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 17:39, 1 October 2014
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to "'s" (apostrophe "s") in English, but is used much more widely.
Structure
Noun 1 + 的 + Noun 2
This means "Noun 1's Noun 2" (where Noun 2 belongs to Noun 1).
The structure is super simple. It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is. It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it"). The structure stays consistent.
Examples
- 我 的 老师 my teacher
- 你 的 啤酒 your beer
- 他 的 书 his book
- 他们 的 东西 their stuff
- 小李 的 手机 Xiao Li's cell phone
- 我们 的 茶our tea
- 我 家 的 小狗my family's puppy
- 公司 的 老板the company's boss
- 上海 的 美女Shanghai's beautiful women
- 美女 的 朋友the beautiful woman's friend
