Expressing close possession without "de"

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

Structure

Normally possession is expressed with the particle 的. However, in some cases you can omit 的. 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 should be omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in).

Examples

  • 这 是 我 家。This is my home.
  • 这 是 我 女朋友 This is my girlfriend.
  • 我 妈妈 每天 都 做饭。My mom cooks every day.
  • 我们 学校 很 大。Our school is big.
  • 我们 公司 在 西安。Our company is in Xi'an.
  • 他 爸爸 是 我们 公司 的 老板。His dad is the boss of our company.
  • 你 姐姐 很 难看 。Your older sister is ugly.
  • 我 家 里 还 有 一 个 妹妹 。I also have a little sister at home.
  • 他们 儿子 很 有名。Their son is really famous.
  • 我 女儿 会 走 了。My daughter can walk now.

If 的 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