Corey
Do you know a way to remember the meaning of the three "de" in Mandarin?

I am trying to understand and remember the differences in the three different meanings of the word "de". Is there a phrase or easy way?

Jun 23, 2014 11:38 AM
Comments · 5
3

Here are the basics...

[noun] 的 [noun] is for possession. The first noun owns the second noun.

我的中文 = My Chinese
Matt的书 = Matt's shoe

 

[adjective] 的 [noun] is for modifying a noun. The adjective describe the noun (when it's only one syllable and for some two-syllable words, the 的 isn't used).

漂亮的女孩 = beautiful girl

好朋友 = good friend (the 的 isn't used)

 

[verb] 得 [adjective] is to describe how the verb is done. We often use add '-ly' to adjectives to make them adverbs.

说得快 = to speak fast/quickly

听得不清楚 = to not hear clearly

 

[adjective] 地 [verb] is with the order switched round.

漫漫地走 = to walk slowly

 

Also, be aware that a lot of people use 的 for all three meanings. And to add confusion 得 is used in such phrases as 听得懂, which is saying the verb is possible with whatever outcome is added to it (in this case, "I can understand what I hear").

June 23, 2014

Accourding to your question, I googled and found a way to remember

 

1.的:Before noun, Sth + 的 = adj.         ---->開心的微笑

2.地:Before verb, Sth + 地 = adv.        ---->開心地笑

3.得:after verb, 得 + Sth  = adv.          ---->笑得開心

 

and I  think 2. & 3. can transfer into one another 

(Examples  are traditional chinese, I hope you can understand them. )

http://blog.huayuworld.org/oushaolin45/20585/2010/10/06/74785

 

June 23, 2015

Matt's book.*

Why does it not matter how many times you proofread something, you always find a mistakes as soon as you can't change it? :D

 

To be fair 书 is pronounced quite like "shoe".

June 23, 2014

When de is possesive pronouns it is like 's in English

When de is adverb it is like ly in English

 

June 23, 2014