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

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* 这 是 <em>我 家</em>。<span class="trans">This is my home.</span>
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* 这 是 <em>我 家</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒjiā </em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my home.</span>
* 这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <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="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="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="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="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="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="trans">My house is very big.</span>
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* <em>我 家</em> 很大 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>wǒjiā </em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">My house is very big.</span>
* <em>他们 儿子</em> 很 有名。<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="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 17:34, 1 October 2014

Sometimes you don't need 的 (de) to indicate certain especially close relationships.

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 wǒjiā .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 。wǒjiā 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