Structural Particles - 的1
结构助词 — 的1
The structural particle 的 marks possession and qualification. It connects a modifier to a noun, like "de" in French.
Structure
Modifier + 的 + Noun
Elements
的
How to use it
- Possession: My book (mon livre).
- Qualification: Pretty girl (a pretty girl), Red clothes (red clothes).
- Relative proposition: Mom's cooking (the cooking that mom prepares).
Examples
红色的衣服很好看。
hóngsè de yīfu hěn hǎokàn。
Red clothes are pretty.
妈妈做的菜很好吃。
māma zuò de cài hěn hǎochī。
Mom's cooking is delicious.
那个高的人是谁？
nàge gāo de rén shì shéi/shuí？
Who is this big person?
这是我的书。
zhè shì wǒ de shū.
This is my book.
Notes and exceptions
- Often omitted with close relations: 我妈妈 (my mom, without 的).
- Common adjectives omit 的: Good people, Big house.
- 的 : particle of possession. The character "的" is used to indicate possession or the relationship between two nouns, similar to the possessive article in French ("le...").
Common mistakes
- Don't confuse 的 (possession), 地 (adverb, HSK2) and 得 (complement, HSK2).
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 红色____衣服很好看。
(Red clothes are pretty.)
2. 妈妈做____菜很好吃。
(Mom's cooking is delicious.)
3. 那个高____人是谁？
(Who is this big person?)
4. 这是我____书。
(This is my book.)