Difference between revisions of "Modifying nouns with adjective + "de""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
One of the best ways to use the common character 的 (de) is to spice up your nouns with adjectives. By using 的 (de), we can connect descriptive adjectives to otherwise boring nouns.  
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One of the best ways to use the common character 的 (de) is to spice up your [[noun]]s with [[adjective]]s. By using 的 (de), we can connect sassy adjectives to otherwise boring nouns.  
  
== Structure with the noun==
+
==  With a Noun==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
 
A very common way to modify nouns is to attach an adjective to them using 的 (de).  
 
A very common way to modify nouns is to attach an adjective to them using 的 (de).  
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Adjective + 的 + Noun
+
Adj. + 的 + Noun
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This structure comes up extremely frequently and is an easy way to attribute features to nouns. Note that if the adjective has two characters (e.g. 漂亮 (piàoliang) or 高兴 (gāoxìng)), the 的 (de) is generally required.
+
This structure comes up extremely frequently and is an easy way to attribute features to nouns. Occasionally you will see this 的 (de) omitted, but note that if the adjective has two characters (e.g. 漂亮 (piàoliang) or 高兴 (gāoxìng)), the 的 (de) is generally required.
  
== Examples ==
+
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>红 色 的 </em> 气球 <span class="pinyin"><Em>hóngsè de</em> qìqiú</span><span class="trans">A red balloon. </span>
+
* <em>漂亮 的</em> 女孩儿 <span class="pinyin"><Em>piàoliang de</em> nǚháir</span><span class="trans">beautiful girl </span>
* <em>漂亮 的 </em> 女孩儿 <span class="pinyin"><Em>piàoliang de</em> nǚhái ér</span><span class="trans">Beautiful girl. </span>
+
* <em>的</em> <span class="pinyin"><Em>de</em> cài </span><span class="trans">spicy food </span>
* <em>好看 的 </em> 衣服 <span class="pinyin"><Em>hǎokàn de</em> yīfú</span><span class="trans">Beautiful clothes. </span>
+
* <em>可爱 的</em> 宝宝 <span class="pinyin"><Em>kě'ài de</em> bǎobao</span><span class="trans">a cute baby </span>
* <em>好喝 的 </em> 啤酒 <span class="pinyin"><Em>hǎohē de</em> píjiǔ</span><span class="trans">Great-tasting beer. </span>
+
* 我 喜欢 <em>新鲜 的</em> 果汁 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>xīnxiān de</em> guǒzhī.</span><span class="trans">I like fresh fruit juice.</span>
* <em>可爱 的 </em> 宝宝 <span class="pinyin"><Em>kě'ài de</em> bǎobǎo</span><span class="trans">A cute baby. </span>
+
* 他 常常 买 <em>便宜 的</em> 东西。 <span class="pinyin">Tā chángcháng mǎi <em>piányi de</em> dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">He often buys cheap stuff.</span>
* 我 喜欢 <em>新鲜 的</em> 果汁 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan <em>xīnxiān de</em> guǒzhī.</span> <span class="trans">I like fresh fruit juice.</span>
 
* 我 有 一 个 <em>很 好 的</em> 老师 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu yī gè <em>hěn hǎo de</em> lǎoshī.</span> <span class="trans">I have a very good teacher.</span>
 
* 爸爸 给 了 我 一 个 <em>很 旧 的</em> 手机 。 <span class="pinyin">Bàba gěi le wǒ yī gè <em>hěn jiù de</em> shǒujī.</span> <span class="trans">My dad gave me a very old phone.</span>
 
* 我 家 有 一 只 <em>白 色 的</em> 小狗 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā yǒu yī zhǐ <em>báisè de</em> xiǎogǒu.</span> <span class="trans">My family has a white puppy.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure Without the noun==
+
== Without a Noun==
  
In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun altogether, and just use the adjective + 的 (de). This is another example of the [[uses of "shi... de"]], where the 是 (shì) is present because it is connecting to a noun, and the 的 (de) is taking the place of the noun. For this usage to work, there already has to be context, so that the listener can understand what the phrase is actually referring to. Without context, there would be no way to know what the 的 (de) meant. Often, this construction can mean "one," as in "the blue one", or as something like "mine" or "Sarah's" if the noun that precedes it possesses the noun that is being dropped. Be careful though, if there is only going to be an adjective (without a 的 (de) and an implied noun) you can't use 是 (shì). In that case, you would [[Simple "noun + adjective" sentences|have to use 很]] (shì).
+
=== Structure ===
  
==Examples==
+
In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun from the pattern, and just use the adjective + 的 (de). This is kind of like saying "the big one" or "the red one" in English. In Chinese the 的 (de) serves the same purpose as the English word "one." By using this pattern, you can avoid repeating the same noun over and over again unnecessarily. Just be sure the other person is already clear which "one" you're referring to when using this pattern!
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
  
 +
Adj. + 的
  
<div class="liju">
+
</div>
  
*A: 你 要 哪 个 气球 ? B:我 要 那 个 <em>红色 的</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ yào nǎ gè qìqiú?  Wǒ yào nà gè <em>hóngsè de</em>.</span> <span class="trans">A: Which balloon do you want? B: I want that red one.</span>
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===Examples===
*A: 你 喜欢 哪 种 女孩子 ? B: <em>漂亮的</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ xǐhuan nǎ zhǒng nǚháizǐ?  B: <em>piāoliàngde</em>.</span> <span class="trans">A: What kind of girls do you like? B: Pretty ones.</span>
 
*A: 你 想 吃 什么 饼干 ? B: <em>甜的</em>。 <span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme bǐng gān?  B: <em>tiánde</em>.</span> <span class="trans">A: What cookie do you want to eat? B: A sweet one.</span>
 
*A: 你 喜欢 喝 哪 个 国家 的 啤酒 ? B: <em>德国 的</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">A: Nǐ xǐhuan hē nǎ gè guójiā de píjiǔ?  B: <em>DéGuó de</em>.</span> <span class="trans">A: Which country's beer do you like to drink? B: Germany's.</span>
 
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 喜欢 吃 什么 东西 ?<span class="pinyin">Háizi xǐhuan chī shénme dōngxi?</span><span class="trans">What food do children like to eat?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <em>甜 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> <em> Tián de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Sweet food.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 喜欢 哪 种 女孩?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xǐhuan nǎ zhǒng nǚhái?</span><span class="trans">What kind of girls do you like?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <em>漂亮 的</em>。<span class="pinyin"><em> Piàoliang de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Pretty ones.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 要 喝 冷 水 还是 热 水?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào hē lěng
 +
shuǐ háishì rè shuǐ ?</span><span class="trans">Do you want to drink cold or hot water?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <em>冷 的</em>。<span class="pinyin"><em>Lěng de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Cold.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你想 找 什么样 的 男朋友?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng zhǎo shénmeyàng de nánpéngyou?</span><span class="trans">What kind of boyfriend do you want to find?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <em>有钱 的</em>。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yǒuqián de</em>.</span><span class="trans">A rich one.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>  你 不 喜欢 吃 什么 菜?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù xǐhuan chī shénme cài?</span><span class="trans">Which foods do you not like to eat?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> <em>辣 的</em>。<span class="pinyin"><em>Là de</em>.</span><span class="trans">Spicy ones.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 70-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|70-1}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 37) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|37}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 191, 233) [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]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|191, 233}}
*[[Yufa!]] (pp. 37) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
+
{{Source|Yufa!|37}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|的|A2|Adj + 的 + N|<em>好喝 的</em> 啤酒。<em>可爱 的</em> 宝宝|grammar point|ASGVUFKX}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|的|A2|Adj. + 的 + Noun|<em>好喝 的</em> 啤酒 / <em>可爱 的</em> 宝宝|grammar point|ASGVUFKX}}
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + de}}   
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + de}}   
 
{{Similar|Expressing possession}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing possession}}

Latest revision as of 09:49, 2 April 2019

One of the best ways to use the common character 的 (de) is to spice up your nouns with adjectives. By using 的 (de), we can connect sassy adjectives to otherwise boring nouns.

With a Noun

Structure

A very common way to modify nouns is to attach an adjective to them using 的 (de).

Adj. + 的 + Noun

This structure comes up extremely frequently and is an easy way to attribute features to nouns. Occasionally you will see this 的 (de) omitted, but note that if the adjective has two characters (e.g. 漂亮 (piàoliang) or 高兴 (gāoxìng)), the 的 (de) is generally required.

Examples

  • 漂亮 的 女孩儿 piàoliang de nǚháirbeautiful girl
  • 辣 的là de cài spicy food
  • 可爱 的 宝宝 kě'ài de bǎobaoa cute baby
  • 我 喜欢 新鲜 的 果汁 。 Wǒ xǐhuan xīnxiān de guǒzhī.I like fresh fruit juice.
  • 他 常常 买 便宜 的 东西。 Tā chángcháng mǎi piányi de dōngxi.He often buys cheap stuff.

Without a Noun

Structure

In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun from the pattern, and just use the adjective + 的 (de). This is kind of like saying "the big one" or "the red one" in English. In Chinese the 的 (de) serves the same purpose as the English word "one." By using this pattern, you can avoid repeating the same noun over and over again unnecessarily. Just be sure the other person is already clear which "one" you're referring to when using this pattern!

Adj. + 的

Examples

  • A: 孩子 喜欢 吃 什么 东西 ?Háizi xǐhuan chī shénme dōngxi?What food do children like to eat?
  • B: 甜 的 Tián de.Sweet food.
  • A: 你 喜欢 哪 种 女孩?Nǐ xǐhuan nǎ zhǒng nǚhái?What kind of girls do you like?
  • B: 漂亮 的 Piàoliang de.Pretty ones.
  • A: 你 要 喝 冷 水 还是 热 水?Nǐ yào hē lěng shuǐ háishì rè shuǐ ?Do you want to drink cold or hot water?
  • B: 冷 的Lěng de.Cold.
  • A: 你想 找 什么样 的 男朋友?Nǐ xiǎng zhǎo shénmeyàng de nánpéngyou?What kind of boyfriend do you want to find?
  • B: 有钱 的Yǒuqián de.A rich one.
  • A: 你 不 喜欢 吃 什么 菜?Nǐ bù xǐhuan chī shénme cài?Which foods do you not like to eat?
  • B: 辣 的Là de.Spicy ones.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books