Structural particle "de"

The structural particle "de" has three written forms in modern Chinese, each with its own uses:

• The structural particle 的 (de), most often used for modifying nouns
• The structural particle 得 (de), most often used with complements
• The structural particle 地 (de), most often used for adverbial phrases

There is also a modal particle 的 (de).

的

It's used to mark possession or modification. One way to think about 的 (de) is that it works like 's in English (apostrophe s). Think of this one as the "possessive de" or "noun-modifying de."

For you nerdier learners, 的 (de) is known to the Chinese as 白勺的 (bái-sháo de) as it's composed of the characters 白 (bái) and 勺 (sháo).

• 小李 的 房子 Xiǎo Lǐ de fángziXiao Li's house

This analogy works very well for possession, as it shows how English and Chinese handle possession in a similar way. Just remember that Chinese uses this "possession" far more widely than English. Modifying, describing qualities, and assigning attributes are all handled in the same way as possession, by using 的 (de).

Another way to use 的 (de) is as an attributive. It's just a way of connecting adjectives or other words with a noun. It gives us more information about the noun, and the 的 (de) makes it clear that the extra information is connected to the noun. Here's an example:

• 红色 的 自行车 Hóngsè de zìxíngchēred bicycle

Here 的 (de) is used to modify "bicycle" with the color "red." It attributes the color "red" to the "bicycle".

Structure

Although certainly not complete for all uses, this simple structure should help as a general guideline:

的 + Noun

Examples

• 我 的 手机Wǒ de shǒujīMy cell phone
• 我们 的 老师Wǒmen de lǎoshīOur teacher
• 漂亮 的 衣服Piàoliang de yīfuBeautiful clothes
• 热闹 的 酒吧 Rènao de jiǔbāA boisterous bar
• 我男朋友 的 公司 Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngsīMy boyfriend's company

得

This de is probably the trickiest to crack for English speakers as it has no obvious equivalent in English. 得 (de) is used to construct various kinds of complements and is usually associated with verbs. You can think of it as the "complement de."

For you nerdier learners, 得 (de) is known as 双人得 (shuāngrén de), as the radical 彳 (chì) is often known as 双人 (shuāngrén) - "double person."

Structure

Although certainly not complete for all uses, this simple structure should help:

Verb + 得

Examples

• 做 得 很 好(Implies an action)Zuò de hěn hǎoDo very well
• 说 得 太 快Shuō de tài kuàiSpeak too fast
• 玩得 很 开心 Wán de hěn kāixīnplay vey happily
• 学 得 很 认真Xué de hěn rènzhēnStudy seriously
• 听 得 不 清楚Tīng de bù qīngchuNot hear clearly

地

地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs, and can be thought of as equivalent to the suffix -ly in English. You could call it the "adverb de" or "adverbial de," since it precedes verbs like adverbs do.

Again, you don't have to know this, but this 地 (de) is known in Chinese as 土也地 (tǔ-yě de), as it's composed of the 土 (tǔ) radical and 也 (yě).

Structure

Although not complete for all uses, this simple structure should help:

Adj + 地 + Verb

Note that it's the "adjective + 地 (de)" structure that makes the adjective into an "adverb phrase" (called an adverbial). If it's a straight-up adverb you're using (instead of an adjective), then you don't need 地 (de) at all.

Examples

• 生气 地 说 shēngqì de chàngAngrily say
• 开心 地 笑 Kāixīn de xiàoHappily laugh
• 慢 慢 地 走 Màn màn de zǒu Slowly walk
• 伤心 地 哭 Shāngxīn de kūSadly cry
• 安静 地 听 Ānjìng de tīngPeacefully listen

Using all 3 "de"s

These examples are naturally going to be a little more difficult than the ones above, since we're cramming all three usages into one sentence, but you may find these useful.

• 我 们 的 老 师 讲 得 很 好，可是 只有 几个 学生 认真 地 听。Wǒmen de lǎoshī jiǎng de hěn hǎo, kěshì zhǐyǒu jǐge xuéshēng rènzhēn de tīng.Our teacher speaks very well, but only a few students are listening carefully.
• 今天 的 作业 你 做 得 不好，是不是 因为 你 没 认真 地 听课？Jīntiān de zuòyè nǐ zuò de de bù hǎo, shì bù shì yīnwèi nǐ méi rènzhēn de tīngkè? You hasn't done today's homework well.Is it because you didn't listen to the class attentively?
• 他 很 努力 地 工作 是 因为 大城市 的 生活 很 不 容易。有时候 你 要 工作 得 很 晚。 de zuòyè nǐ zuò de de bù hǎo, shì bù shì yīnwèi nǐ méi rènzhēn de tīngkè? You hasn't done today's homework well.Is it because you didn't listen to the class attentively?
• 我 买 了 一件 漂亮 的 裙子 去参加 朋友 的 派对。我们 玩 得 很 开心。 de zuòyè nǐ zuò de de bù hǎo, shì bù shì yīnwèi nǐ méi rènzhēn de tīngkè? You hasn't done today's homework well.Is it because you didn't listen to the class attentively?
• 他 跟 朋友 去 了 一个 很贵 的 酒吧，一边 喝酒， 一边 开心 地 跳舞，回来得很晚。 de zuòyè nǐ zuò de de bù hǎo, shì bù shì yīnwèi nǐ méi rènzhēn de tīngkè? You hasn't done today's homework well.Is it because you didn't listen to the class attentively?

Sources and further reading

Books

• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 133-135) →buy
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 72) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 291-3) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 193 - 195) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 50-1, 99-101) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 189)→buy

Websites

• Blog post (Chinese): “的”与“地”“得”
• Online document (Chinese): “的”“地”“得”的用法区别 explains and shares a song about the three de's
• Sinosplice: The Three De Song
• East Asia Student: 的 地 得 grammar summary (DE particles)
• ChinesePod blog: The Three Musketeers (的, 得, and 地) on ChinesePod.com