HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
的, 得, 地: three “de” particles
All three are read “de”: 的 before nouns, 得 after verbs, 地 before verbs.
Structure
- describer + 的 + noun
- verb + 得 + description
- description + 地 + verb
How it works
的 joins a describer to a noun: 漂亮的衣服, 我的书.
得 comes after a verb and introduces how the action is done: 跑得很快.
地 comes after a describing word and before a verb, like English “-ly”: 慢慢地走 walk slowly, 高兴地说 say happily.
Ask what comes next: a noun → 的; a description after a verb → 得; a verb after a description → 地.
Examples
-
这是我新买的手机。
Zhè shì wǒ xīn mǎi de shǒujī.
This is the phone I just bought.
-
他跑得很快。
Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.
He runs fast.
-
孩子们高兴地唱歌。
Háizi men gāoxìng de chàng gē.
The children sang happily.
-
请慢慢地说。
Qǐng màn màn de shuō.
Please speak slowly.
-
她认真地看了一遍。
Tā rènzhēn de kàn le yí biàn.
She read it through carefully.
Words in these examples (27)
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 新 | xīn | new | HSK 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 跑 | pǎo | to run | HSK 2 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 们 | men | (plural ending for people, as in 我们) | HSK 1 |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy; glad | HSK 1 |
| 地 | de | (particle before a verb, like English "-ly") | HSK 2 |
| 唱 | chàng | to sing | HSK 1 |
| 歌 | gē | song | HSK 1 |
| 请 | qǐng | please; to invite; to treat (pay for) | HSK 1 |
| 慢 | màn | slow | HSK 2 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 认真 | rènzhēn | serious; careful | HSK 3 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 遍 | biàn | (measure word for actions, from start to finish), as in 再说一遍 "say it once more" | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗他跑的很快。
✓他跑得很快。
After a verb, before the description: 得.
-
✗他高兴得说。
✓他高兴地说。
A description before a verb: 地.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 这是我妈妈做 菜。
2. 她汉语说 很好。
3. 我们慢慢 走吧。