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得 děi Chineses Grammar

Must 得 děi Grammar

Posted on April 9, 2023April 8, 2023 by tiffany

Table of Contents

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  • Structure
    • S + 得 + Verb

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Grammar Point:
The Chinese grammar particle 得 děi is used to express the necessity or obligation to do something. It can be translated into English as “must,” “have to,” or “should.”

I know it can be very confusing because it is the same character as 得 de, but actually, you can distinguish between them based on where the verb is located in the sentence. If the verb comes before 得, then it is 得 de. If the verb comes after 得, then it is 得 děi.

Structure

S + 得 + Verb

你nǐ得děi在zài明天míngtiān前qián完成wánchéng工作gōngzuò你nǐ得děi在zài明天míngtiān前qián完成wánchéng工作gōngzuò
You have to finish your work by tomorrow.

如果rúguǒ我wǒ買mǎi給gěi你nǐ, 回家huíjiā後hòu你nǐ得děi整理zhěnglǐ你的nǐde房間fángjiān如果rúguǒ我wǒ买mǎi给gěi你nǐ, 回家huíjiā后hòu你nǐ得děi整理zhěnglǐ你的nǐde房间fángjiān
If I buy it for you, you have to tidy up your room when you get home.

要yào學xué好hǎo中文zhōngwén, 就jiù得děi交jiāo一個yíge說shuō中文zhōngwén的de朋友péngyǒu要yào学xué好hǎo中文zhōngwén, 就jiù得děi交jiāo一个yíge说shuō中文zhōngwén的de朋友péngyou
To learn Chinese well, you must make a friend who speaks Chinese.

想xiǎng過guò得de舒服shūfú, 就jiù得děi努力nǔlì掙錢zhèngqián想xiǎng过guò得de舒服shūfu, 就jiù得děi努力nǔlì挣钱zhèngqián
Want to live a comfortable life, you have to work hard to earn money

我wǒ得děi做zuò什麼shénme, 你nǐ才cái願意yuànyì做zuò我的wǒde女朋友nǚpéngyǒu? 我wǒ得děi做zuò什么shénme, 你nǐ才cái愿意yuànyì做zuò我的wǒde女朋友nǚpéngyou?
What do I have to do to make you willing to be my girlfriend?

要yào我wǒ當dāng你的nǐde女朋友nǚpéngyǒu, 你nǐ得děi等děng下輩子xiàbèizi要yào我wǒ当dāng你的nǐde女朋友nǚpéngyou, 你nǐ得děi等děng下辈子xiàbèizi
If you want me to be your girlfriend, you have to wait until the next life.

Do you like it? 🙂

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Whenever I ask foreigners, "Do you speak Chinese?" they often reply, "a little bit" (yì diǎn diǎn). That inspired me to create this website and translate "yì diǎn diǎn" into the quirky and fun "One Dot Dot."

It’s also a reminder that learning Chinese is a journey, and progress happens one step at a time. By learning just a little bit every day, you’ll go far!

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