Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"

In addition to linking adjectives to nouns, 的 (de) can also be used to link a whole phrase to a noun, making the already useful 的 (de) even more useful.

Structure

As well as attaching adjectives to nouns, 的 (de) can be used to attach whole phrases to nouns. In English this is often achieved with "who" or "that". For example, "The man who went to Beijing" or "The book that I bought yesterday."

Phrase + 的 + Noun

Here a phrase means Verb + (Object).

Examples

• 妈妈 做 的 菜 māma zuò de càiThe food that mom cooks.
• 你 教 的 学生 nàge xuéxiào de lǎoshīThe teacher of that school.
• 去 北京 的 火车 qù Běijīng de huǒchēThe train that goes to Beijing.
• 我 请 的 朋友 de rénThe people that come today.
• 老师 画 的画wǒ huà de huà The pictures that I draw.
• 他 写 的 书 Tā xiě de shūThe books that he wrote.
• 不 喜欢 中国菜 的 老外 bù xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài de lǎowài The foreigners that don't like Chinese food.
• 妈妈 在 上海 买 的 衣服Māma zài Shànghǎi mǎi de yīfuThe clothes that mom bought in Shanghai.
• 穿 Prada 的 女人chuān Prada de nǚrénWomen who wear Prada.
• 喜欢 问 问题 的 小孩 xǐhuan wèn wèntí de xiǎohái The children who like to ask questions.

See also

• Modifying nouns with adjective + de
• Expressing possession

Sources and Further Reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 76) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 107-8) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 39) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 141)→buy
• Yufa! (pp. 37) →buy