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

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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.
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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 ==
 
== Structure ==
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* 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="trans">my teacher</span>
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* 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>de </em> lǎoshī</span><span class="trans">my teacher</span>
* 你 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="trans">your beer</span>
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* 你 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>de </em> píjiǔ</span><span class="trans">your beer</span>
* 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="trans">his book</span>
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* 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>de </em> shū</span><span class="trans">his book</span>
* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span>
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* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>de </em> dōngxī</span><span class="trans">their stuff</span>
* 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span>
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* 小李 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="pinyin">小李 <em>的</em> 手机</span><span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span>
* 我们 <em>的</em> 茶<span class="trans">our tea</span>
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* 我们 <em>的</em> 茶<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>de </em> chá</span><span class="trans">our tea</span>
* 我 家 <em>的</em> 小狗<span class="trans">my family's puppy</span>
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* 我 家 <em>的</em> 小狗<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiā <em>de </em> xiǎo gǒu</span><span class="trans">my family's puppy</span>
* 公司 <em>的</em> 老板<span class="trans">the company's boss</span>
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* 公司 <em>的</em> 老板<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī <em>de </em> lǎobǎn</span><span class="trans">the company's boss</span>
* 上海 <em>的</em> 美女<span class="trans">Shanghai's beautiful women</span>
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* 上海 <em>的</em> 美女<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>de </em> měinǚ</span><span class="trans">Shanghai's beautiful women</span>
* 美女 <em>的</em> 朋友<span class="trans">the beautiful woman's friend</span>
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* 美女 <em>的</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin">Měinǚ <em>de </em> péngyǒu</span><span class="trans">the beautiful woman's friend</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 17:39, 1 October 2014

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

  • 老师 de lǎoshīmy teacher
  • 啤酒 de píjiǔyour beer
  • de shūhis book
  • 他们 东西 Tāmen de dōngxītheir stuff
  • 小李 手机 小李 手机Xiao Li's cell phone
  • 我们 Wǒmen de cháour tea
  • 我 家 小狗Wǒjiā de xiǎo gǒumy family's puppy
  • 公司 老板Gōngsī de lǎobǎnthe company's boss
  • 上海 美女Shànghǎi de měinǚShanghai's beautiful women
  • 美女 朋友Měinǚ de péngyǒuthe beautiful woman's friend

See also

Sources and further reading