Chinese Complement Marker 得 de

Grammar Point:
The Chinese verb modifier 得 de comes between the verb and the complement, describing the result or state of the action represented by the verb.

Structure

V + 得 de + Adj.

In Mandarin Chinese, the results always come after the actions.

你nǐ走zǒu得de很hěn快kuài你nǐ走zǒu得de很hěn快kuài
You’re walking fast.

他tā睡shuì得de非常fēicháng好hǎo他tā睡shuì得de非常fēicháng好hǎo
He slept very well.

媽媽māma說shuō得de不bù清楚qīngchǔ妈妈māma说shuō得de不bù清楚qīngchu
Mom didn’t speak clearly.

你nǐ做zuò得de很hěn好hǎo你nǐ做zuò得de很hěn好hǎo
You did very well.

賣mài得de不bú太tài好hǎo卖mài得de不bú太tài好hǎo
Not selling well.

Adding details

There are three ways you can add an object to your sentence. Regardless of which one you choose, always make sure that 得 de is placed after the verb it modifies, not the object of the verb.

1. < O，S + V + 得 + Adj. >

This form is for spoken language not written language.

中文zhōngwén， 他tā說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo中文zhōngwén， 他tā说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
He speaks Chinese very well.

字zì， 你nǐ寫xiě得de很hěn難看nánkàn字zì， 你nǐ写xiě得de很hěn难看nánkàn
Your writing is very difficult to read.

飯fàn， 媽媽māma做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī饭fàn， 妈妈māma做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī
Mom’s cooking is very good.

書shū， 我wǒ看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn书shū， 我wǒ看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn
I read books very slowly.

2. < S，O + V + 得 + Adj. >

This form is also for spoken language not written language.

他tā， 中文zhōngwén說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo他tā， 中文zhōngwén说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
He speaks Chinese very well.

你nǐ， 字zì寫xiě得de很hěn難看nánkàn你nǐ， 字zì写xiě得de很hěn难看nánkàn
Your writing is very difficult to read.

FYI
In China, we have this awesome tradition of teaching children to write characters beautifully. It’s like unlocking a secret window into their personality! We believe that handwriting can reveal so much about a person. It’s not just about the words on paper; it’s a reflection of their inner self. This belief is deeply rooted in our rich Chinese culture, where calligraphy is treasured as both an art form and a way to express oneself. The coolest thing is that by practicing and mastering the art of writing characters, kids can develop some amazing qualities like discipline, patience, and a keen eye for detail. It’s like a superpower that helps them grow into awesome individuals!

媽媽māma， 飯fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī妈妈māma， 饭fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī
Mom’s cooking is very good.

我wǒ， 書shū看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn我wǒ， 书shū看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn
I read books very slowly.

3. < S + 的 + O + V + 得 + Adj. >

This is one of the common ways to use it, but when you use it, sometimes the meaning can change, especially when the object is not a skill or ability.

他的tāde中文zhōngwén說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo他的tāde中文zhōngwén说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
He speaks Chinese very well.

你的nǐde字zì寫xiě得de很hěn難看nánkàn你的nǐde字zì写xiě得de很hěn难看nánkàn
Your writing is very difficult to read.

媽媽māma的de飯fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī妈妈māma的de饭fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī
Mom’s cooking is very good.

我的wǒde書shū看kàn得de 非常fēicháng慢màn我的wǒde书shū看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn
I read books very slowly. ✅
I read my book very slowly ✅

4. < S + V + O + V + 得 + Adj. >

We repeat the verb much less frequently in our daily life conversations compared to the above three. On the other hand, this expression is the most formal and clear, with almost no ambiguity present.

他tā說shuō中文zhōngwén說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo他tā说shuō中文zhōngwén说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
He speaks Chinese very well.

你nǐ寫xiě字zì寫xiě得de很hěn難看nánkàn你nǐ写xiě字zì写xiě得de很hěn难看nánkàn
Your writing is very difficult to read.

媽媽māma做zuò飯fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī妈妈māma做zuò饭fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī
Mom’s cooking is very good.

我wǒ看kàn書shū看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn我wǒ看kàn书shū看kàn得de非常fēicháng慢màn
I read books very slowly.

Common Mistakes

他tā說shuō中文zhōngwén得de很hěn好hǎo他tā说shuō中文zhōngwén得de很hěn好hǎo ❌
(“得 de” should always placed after the verbs.)

他tā說shuō中文zhōngwén很hěn好hǎo他tā说shuō中文zhōngwén很hěn好hǎo ❌
(Don’t forget to use “得 de” to link the verbs and adjectives.)

我wǒ做飯zuòfàn做zuò得de很hěn難nán我wǒ做饭zuòfàn做zuò得de很hěn难nán ❌
(This sentence actually means “I make cooking (the process of making food) difficult.” You can see all the examples I provide above; they all talk about “the actions” being “adjective” because of “the subject.”)

Confusion

In Mandarin Chinese, there is a structure called “Topic and Comment.” This is where Chinese learners often get confused because the particle 得 de is missing.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ She drinks a lot of wine.

她tā酒jiǔ喝hē得de很hěn多duō她tā酒jiǔ喝hē得de很hěn多duō

✔️ You learn Chinese too fast!

你的nǐde中文zhōngwén學xué得de太tài快kuài了le你的nǐde中文zhōngwén学xué得de太tài快kuài了le

✔️ You change boyfriends faster.

你nǐ換huàn男友nányǒu換huàn得de更gèng快kuài你nǐ换huàn男友nányou换huàn得de更gèng快kuài