Difference between revisions of "Expressing possession with "de""

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* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span>
 
* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span>
 
* 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span>
 
* 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span>
 +
* 我们 <em>的</em> 茶<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
 +
* 我家 <em>的</em> 小狗<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
 +
* 公司 <em>的</em> 办公室<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
 +
* 办公室 里 <em>的</em> 美女<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
 +
* 美女 桌子 上<em>的</em> 花<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
=== Books ===
 
  
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 45) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 45) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]

Revision as of 06:39, 5 September 2013

In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to 's (apostrophe s) in English, but is used much more widely.

Structure

Noun 1 + 的 + Noun 2

This means "Noun 1's Noun 2" (where Noun 2 belongs to Noun 1).

The structure is super simple. It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is. It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it"). The structure stays consistent.

Examples

  • 啤酒 my beer
  • 葡萄酒 your wine
  • his book
  • 他们 东西 their stuff
  • 小李 手机 Xiao Li's cell phone
  • 我们 TRANSLATION
  • 我家 小狗TRANSLATION
  • 公司 办公室TRANSLATION
  • 办公室 里 美女TRANSLATION
  • 美女 桌子 上TRANSLATION

See also

Sources and further reading