Difference between revisions of "Expressing close possession without "de""

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* 这 是 <em>我 家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ jiā </em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my home.</span>
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* 这 是 <em>我 家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ jiā</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my home.</span>
* 这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ nǚ péngyǒu </em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my girlfriend.</span>
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* 这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ nǚ péngyǒu</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>
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* <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 大。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒmen xuéxiào </em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">Our school is big.</span>
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* <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>我们 公司</em> 在 西安。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒmen gōngsī </em> zài Xī'ān.</span><span class="trans">Our company is in Xi'an.</span>
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* <em>我们 公司</em> 在 西安。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒmen gōngsī</em> zài Xī'ān.</span><span class="trans">Our company is in Xi'an.</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>
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* <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 姐姐</em> 很 难看 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ jiějiě </em> hěn nánkàn.</span><span class="trans">Your older sister is ugly.</span>
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* <em>你 姐姐</em> 很 难看 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ jiějiě</em> hěn nánkàn.</span><span class="trans">Your older sister is ugly.</span>
* <em>我 家</em> 很大 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ jiā </em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">My house is very big.</span>
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* <em>我 家</em> 很大 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ jiā</em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">My house is very big.</span>
* <em>他们 儿子</em> 很 有名。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tāmen érzi </em> hěn yǒumíng.</span><span class="trans">Their son is really famous.</span>
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* <em>他们 儿子</em> 很 有名。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tāmen érzi</em> hěn yǒumíng.</span><span class="trans">Their son is really famous.</span>
* <em>我 女儿</em> 会 说 英语。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ nǚ'ér </em> huì shuō Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">My daughter can speak English.</span>
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* <em>我 女儿</em> 会 说 英语。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ nǚ'ér</em> huì shuō Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">My daughter can speak English.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 01:31, 15 July 2015

Often, you would say in Chinese 的 (de) to indicate that something is your in possession. Although, when you talk about certain (especially close) relationships, this can seem too wordy.

Structure

pronoun + Noun

Normally possession is expressed with the particle 的 (de). However, in some cases you can omit 的 (de). This happens when the possession is about:

  • A close personal relationship (family, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends)
  • An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work)

In these cases 的 (de) should be omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in).

Examples

  • 这 是 我 家Zhè shì wǒ jiā.This is my home.
  • 这 是 我 女朋友Zhè shì wǒ nǚ péngyǒu.This is my girlfriend.
  • 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。Tā māmā hěn piàoliang.Her mom is very beautiful.
  • 我们 学校 很 大。Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.Our school is big.
  • 我们 公司 在 西安。Wǒmen gōngsī zài Xī'ān.Our company is in Xi'an.
  • 他 爸爸我们 公司 的 老板。Tā bàba shì wǒmen gōngsī de lǎobǎn.His dad is the boss of our company.
  • 你 姐姐 很 难看 。Nǐ jiějiě hěn nánkàn.Your older sister is ugly.
  • 我 家 很大 。Wǒ jiā hěn dà.My house is very big.
  • 他们 儿子 很 有名。Tāmen érzi hěn yǒumíng.Their son is really famous.
  • 我 女儿 会 说 英语。Wǒ nǚ'ér huì shuō Yīngyǔ.My daughter can speak English.

If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create a sense of distance between the two, and possibly even imply that the relationship is not particularly close.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books