IF in Chinese - Common Mistakes made by Mandarin Beginner

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Katrina Lee

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SMART Mandarin

 

2014.01.06

(Simplified Chinese)

 

The Basic Usage of 的(de)

 

的is one of the most common words in Chinese and it’s one of the most annoying grammatical words as well.

For beginners of Chinese, 的(de) can be translate as the “possession” equivalent to English word “of” or “’s”.

Let’s talk about the basics of 的 in Mandarin!

 

1.      When 的 is following a pronoun or a subject

我(wǒ )的(de ) my  - 这(zhè )是(shì )我(wǒ )的(de )书(shū )。 This is my book.

你(nǐ )的(de ) your  - 那(nà )杯(bēi )咖(kā )啡(fēi )是(shì )你(nǐ )的(de )吗(ma )？ Is that your cup of coffee?

她(tā )的(de ) her

他(tā )的(de ) his

他(tā )们(men )的(de ) their

你(nǐ )们(men )的(de ) your

我(wǒ )们(men )的(de ) our

谁(shuí )的(de ) whose

Mary的(de) Mary’s

 

2.      Using 的 as the “of” function in English

这(zhè )种(zhǒng )茶(chá ) 的(de ) 味(wèi )道(dào )很(hěn )好(hǎo )。The flavor of this tea is very good.

As the example above, if we use a direct translation. It would be

   “This kind tea   of    taste   very good.”

      这(zhè )种(zhǒng )茶(chá )      的(de )    味(wèi )道(dào )   很(hěn )好(hǎo )

 

  And it’s obvious that Mandarin structure of 的(de) is very different from English!

  In Chinese, we consider “taste” belongs to the “tea”. So in Chinese thinking it would become “ This kind tea’s taste is very good.” With this idea in mind, we can do more similar sentences with 的(de).

 

See more examples:

那(nà )个(gè )牌(pái )子(zi )的(de )相(xiàng )机(jī )很(hěn )贵(guì )。The cameras of that bread are very expensive. or “that brand’s cameras are very expensive” (because the speaker is pointing out that “the cameras under that brand” are expensive)

 

3.      When的 is between an adjective and a noun, using to modify a noun

Example:  聪(cōng )明(míng )的(de )孩(hái )子(zi )。 Smart kid

聪明 is an adjective the sentence above, but adjectives can’t be used directly modifying the noun like English. Therefore, it is not ok to say “聪明孩子”.

For example: 我(wǒ )喜(xǐ )欢(huān )聪(cōng )明(míng )的(de )孩(hái )子(zi )。I like smart kids.

                     我(wǒ )喜(xǐ )欢(huān )好(hǎo)吃(chī )的(de )食(shí )物(wù )。I like to eat delicious food.

 

4.      If the sentence is without any nouns after the adjective, then 的 is not necessary to use.

For example: 这(zhè )个(ge )孩(hái )子(zi )很(hěn )聪(cōng )明(míng )。This kid is very smart.

                     中(zhōng )国(guó )菜(cài )很(hěn )好(hào )吃(chī )。 Chinese food is delicious.