Difference between revisions of "Expressing close possession without "de""
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | + | [[Expressing possession]] in Chinese is accomplished with the particle [[的]] (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more naturally to drop the 的 (de). | |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Normally [[Expressing possession|possession]] is expressed with the [[particle]] 的 (de). However, | + | Normally [[Expressing possession|possession]] is expressed with the [[particle]] 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases: |
| − | * A close personal relationship (family, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends) | + | * A close personal relationship (family, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends) is involved |
| − | * An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work) | + | * An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work) is involved |
In these cases 的 (de) '''should be''' omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in). | In these cases 的 (de) '''should be''' omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in). | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
* 这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my girlfriend.</span> | * 这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my girlfriend.</span> | ||
* <em>她 妈妈</em> 很 漂亮。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā māmā</em> hěn piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">Her mom is very beautiful.</span> | * <em>她 妈妈</em> 很 漂亮。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā māmā</em> hěn piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">Her mom is very beautiful.</span> | ||
| − | * <em>我们 学校</em> 很 | + | * <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> |
| − | * <em>他们 公司</em> 在 北京。<span class="pinyin"><Em> | + | * <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> |
* <em>他 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> | * <em>他 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> | ||
* <em>你 男朋友</em> 很 帅。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ nán péngyou</em> hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend is very handsome.</span> | * <em>你 男朋友</em> 很 帅。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ nán péngyou</em> hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend is very handsome.</span> | ||
| Line 35: | Line 35: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create | + | If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 02:10, 19 January 2016
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
Expressing possession in Chinese is accomplished with the particle 的 (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more naturally to drop the 的 (de).
Structure
pronoun + Noun
Normally possession is expressed with the particle 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:
- A close personal relationship (family, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends) is involved
- An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work) is involved
In these cases 的 (de) should be omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in).
Examples
- 我 家 很 大。My house is very big.
- 你 哥哥 很 高 。Your elder brother is very tall.
- 这 是 我 女朋友。 This is my girlfriend.
- 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。Her mom is very beautiful.
- 我们 学校 很 大 。Our school is big.
- 他们 公司 在 北京。Their company is in Bejing.
- 他 爸爸 是 我们 公司 的 老板。His dad is the boss of our company.
- 你 男朋友 很 帅。Your boyfriend is very handsome.
- 他 儿子 很 有名。His son is really famous.
- 我 女儿 会 说 英语。My daughter can speak English.
If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two.
