Expressing "must" with "dei"

Level

B1 / HSK4
Level

B1
Level

HSK4
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "would like to" with "xiang" (HSK1)
- Wanting to do something with "yao" (HSK2)
- Expressing "should" with "yinggai" (HSK3)
- Declaring the only option with "zhihao" (HSK4)
- Expressing "don't need to" with "buyong" (HSK4)
- Expressing "had better" with "zuihao" (HSK4)
- Expressing "have to" with "budebu" (HSK4)
- Adding emphasis with "fei....buke" (HSK6)
- Expressing “must" with "feidei" (HSK6)
Used for

Giving commands, Expressing obligations
Keywords

得

Learning how to use 得 (děi) to mean "must" must be done by those wishing to master Chinese!

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

我们得走了。Wǒmen děi zǒu le.We have to leave.
时间不早了，我得回家了。Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ děi huíjiā le.It's getting late. I have to go home.
他是你弟弟，你得帮他。Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ děi bāng tā.He is your younger brother. You must help him.
不好意思，你得马上离开。Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ děi mǎshàng líkāi.Sorry, you have to get out of here right now.
在学校就得听老师的话。Zài xuéxiào jiù děi tīng lǎoshī de huà.You have to listen to the teacher at school.
你得先付钱再进。Nǐ děi xiān fù qián zài jìn.You need to pay before you come inside.
是你的错，你得道歉。Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ děi dàoqiàn.It's your fault. You must apologize.
他没有经验，你得教教他。Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ děi jiāojiao tā.He doesn't have experience. You must teach him.
明天去面试，你得穿得正式一点。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，得去看医生。Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, děi qù kàn yīshēng.You are really sick, you must go see a doctor.

Sources and further reading

Videos

Yoyo Chinese: "Have to and Don't have to"

Books

Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 164-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 301) [ →buy]