的 de, 得 de, and 地 de

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
Do you know the difference between 的 de, 得 de, and 地 de? They are three structural auxiliary words with different functions but the same pronunciation.

  • 　 的 de is a noun modifier
  • 　 得 de is a verb modifier
  • 　 地 de is an adjective modifier

＜的＞

的 de is a noun modifier that can be used to indicate possession or link an adjective or verb phrase to a noun.

V / Adj. / N+ 的 + N

Tiffany 的de狗gǒu
Tiffany’s dog (N + 的 + N)

可爱kěài的de狗gǒu
Cute dog (Adj + 的 + N)

我wǒ画huà的de狗gǒu
The dog I draw (V + 的 + N)

我wǒ画huà的de狗gǒu很hěn可爱kěài
The dog I draw is cute.

你nǐ做zuò的de饭fàn很hěn好吃hǎochī
The food you made is delicious.

＜ 得 ＞

得 de is a verb modifier that can tell us how a verb is performed.

V + 得 + Adv. + Adj.

我wǒ吃chī得de很hěn慢màn
I eat very slowly.

他tā说shuō得de很好hěnhǎo
He speaks very well.

日本人rìběnrén走zǒu得de很hěn快kuài
The Japanese are walking fast.

泰国人tàiguórén吃chī得de很hěn辣là
Thai people eat very spicy.

To know more function of 得 de:

＜地＞

This one is not as common as the previous two. 地 de is an adjective modifier that can turn an adjective into an adverb phrase to describe the following verb.

Adj. + 地 + V

你nǐ慢慢mànmàn地de吃chī
Eat slowly.

孩子háizi很hěn高兴gāoxīng地de回家huíjiā
The Children go home happily.

妈妈māma生气shēngqì地de说shuō
Mother said angrily.

你们nǐmen好好hǎohǎo地de玩wán
Have a good time.

The words before 地 de must be two-syllable adjectives. If it is a one-syllable adjective, then you need to repeat the adjective twice. Also, do not add any adverb to modify the degree of the adjectives when you repeat the adjective twice.

他tā轻qīng地de放fàng下xià ❌
He gently put down.
(Don’t forget to repeat one-syllable adjectives)

小猫xiǎomāo非常fēicháng慢慢mànmàn地de吃饭chīfàn ❌
Kitten eats very slowly.
(No adverb to modify the degree of the adjectives when you repeat the adjectives.)

FYI
Have you noticed that a lot of young Chinese folks are using “的” instead of “地” in written Chinese? Well, it’s all because of social media and messaging apps! You know how it is – we’re all about speed and convenience when we’re chatting away, so grammar rules and spelling get thrown out the window. “的” is just way easier to pick than “地”, so it’s become the go-to choice for many of us. 🫠

Mix together!

我的wǒde狗gǒu吃chī得de很hěn快kuài
My dog eats quickly.

孩子háizi高兴gāoxīng地de吃chī妈妈māma做zuò的de饭fàn
Children happily eat the meal their mother made.

你nǐ慢慢mànmàn地de写xiě， 不然bùrán你nǐ的de字zì写xiě得de不bù好看hǎokàn
Write slowly, otherwise your handwriting will not look good.

的 得 地

Do you like it? 🙂