A 的 de A，B 的 de B

Grammar Point:
The colloquial pattern is used to describe a situation where each person or thing has its own characteristic, role, or condition. It emphasizes the individuality or diversity within a group, often giving a sense of balance, division, or order.

Structure

A 的 de A，B 的 de B

A refers to one group or condition, while B refers to another, and depending on the context, it can involve nouns, verbs or adjectives. This pattern highlights how different people or groups are doing different things, each fulfilling their own role.

家jiā裡lǐ老lǎo的de老lǎo， 小xiǎo的de小xiǎo家jiā里lǐ老lǎo的de老lǎo， 小xiǎo的de小xiǎo
At home, the elderly do their thing, and the young ones do theirs.

學生xuéshēng們men在zài教室jiàoshì裡lǐ， 讀dú的de讀dú，，寫xiě的de寫xiě学生xuéshēng们men在zài教室jiàoshì里lǐ，，读dú的de读dú， 写xiě的de写xiě
In the classroom, some students are reading, and others are writing.

衣服yīfú大dà的de大dà， 小xiǎo的de小xiǎo， 沒méi一yí件jiàn合身héshēn衣服yīfu大dà的de大dà， 小xiǎo的de小xiǎo， 没méi一yí件jiàn合身héshēn
The clothes are either big or small, none of them fit.

菜市場càishìchǎng的de菜cài貴guì的de貴guì， 便宜piányí的de便宜piányí， 貴guì的de不一定bùyídìng好hǎo， 便宜piányí的de也yě不一定bùyídìng不好bùhǎo菜市场càishìchǎng的de菜cài贵guì的de贵guì， 便宜piányi的de便宜piányi， 贵guì的de不一定bùyídìng好hǎo，便宜piányi的de也yě不一定bùyídìng不好bùhǎo
In the market, some vegetables are expensive, some are cheap; but expensive ones aren’t always better, and cheap ones aren’t always worse.

路上lùshàng車chē多duō， 人rén更gèng多duō， 騎車qíchē的de騎車qíchē， 走路zǒulù的de走路zǒulù路上lùshang车chē多duō， 人rén更gèng多duō， 骑车qíchē的de骑车qíchē， 走路zǒulù的de走路zǒulù
The streets are crowded with cars and even more people — some are biking, and some are walking.

城市chéngshì裡lǐ的de房子fángzi新xīn的de新xīn， 舊jiù的de舊jiù， 但dàn不管bùguǎn怎樣zěnyàng都dōu很hěn貴guì城市chéngshì里lǐ的de房子fángzi新xīn的de新xīn， 旧jiù的de旧jiù， 但dàn不管bùguǎn怎样zěnyáng都dōu很hěn贵guì
In the city, some houses are new, some are old, but no matter what, they’re all expensive.

公司gōngsī裡lǐ忙máng的de忙máng， 聊天liáotiān的de聊天liáotiān公司gōngsī里lǐ忙máng的de忙máng， 聊天liáotiān的de聊天liáotiān
In the company, some are busy working, and others are chatting.

Differences

A 的 de A，B 的 de B

• More colloquial and rhythmic. Emphasis is on clear division or categorization.
• Often used in spoken Chinese or descriptive writing to give a vivid or poetic effect.
• Often used for observable characteristics (size, roles, actions).

有的 yǒude …有的 yǒude…

• More neutral and explicit. Describes specific examples within a group.
• Common in both spoken and written Chinese, including formal contexts.
• Often used for factual observations rather than poetic descriptions.

Situation A: If someone asks you, “Are all the furniture in your home new?

A：家裡jiālǐ的de傢具jiājù， 有的yǒude是shì新xīn的de， 有的yǒude是shì舊jiù的de家里jiālǐ的de家具jiājù， 有的yǒude是shì新xīn的de， 有的yǒude是shì旧jiù的de ✅
The furniture at home, some is new, and some is old.
(This is a clear and direct response to the question. It explicitly states that some furniture is new, and some is old, making it suitable for answering factual or specific questions.)

A：家裡jiālǐ的de傢具jiājù新xīn的de新xīn， 舊jiù的de舊jiù家里jiālǐ的de家具jiājù新xīn的de新xīn， 旧jiù的de旧jiù ❌
The furniture at home, some is new, and some is old.
(This is less explicit and more descriptive or rhetorical. It feels like you’re making an observation or description, rather than directly answering the question.)

Situation B: If you rent a house, walk in, take a look at the furniture, and say, “This place needs a bit of tidying up since…

家裡jiālǐ的de傢具jiājù， 有的yǒude是shì新xīn的de， 有的yǒude是shì舊jiù的de家里jiālǐ的de家具jiājù， 有的yǒude是shì新xīn的de， 有的yǒude是shì旧jiù的de ❌
The furniture at home, some is new, and some is old.
(This works better when you want to make a detailed description or explicitly highlight specific items. It implies: “Let me break this down for you — here’s what’s new and what’s old.”)

家裡jiālǐ的de傢具jiājù新xīn的de新xīn， 舊jiù的de舊jiù家里jiālǐ的de家具jiājù新xīn的de新xīn， 旧jiù的de旧jiù ✅
The furniture at home, some is new, and some is old.
(This works better when you’re making a quick judgment about the general state of the furniture as a whole. It implies: “The furniture is in a mix of conditions, and I can tell this right away.”)