的 (de) | Whose; a noun's...;as a noun itself | Learn Chinese Conversation for Beginners | HSK2

Ajouté : 2026-05-12

[00:00:03]Hello everyone and welcome back to our self-study Mandarin course.

[00:00:07]Before we dive straight into today's lesson, if you find our videos helpful, please make sure to hit that subscribe button and share this video with your friends or anyone else who is learning Chinese.

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[00:00:24]All right.

[00:00:24]Today, we are going to tackle one of the most important and frequently used characters in the entire Chinese language.

[00:00:32]We are going to master the particle 的 (de).

[00:00:35]If you've studied even a little bit of Mandarin, you have definitely seen or heard this character.

[00:00:40]But you might be wondering, why do we use 的 (de)? What exactly does it do?

[00:00:45]Unlike English, 的 (de) doesn't directly translate to just one single word. Instead, it acts like a grammatical bridge.

[00:00:53]In today's lesson, we are going to demystify 的 (de) and look exactly at why and how we use it.

[00:01:00]Let's get started.

[00:01:01]To make this easy to digest, we can break down the usage of 的 (de) into four key functions.

[00:01:07]Think of this as our roadmap for today's lesson.

[00:01:10]First is possession.

[00:01:12]This is how we say 'my,' 'your,' or 'the teacher's.'

[00:01:16]It shows that something belongs to someone.

[00:01:18]Second is description.

[00:01:20]We use 的 (de) to connect adjectives like red, big, or beautiful to the nouns they are describing.

[00:01:27]Third is the '的 (de) phrase.'

[00:01:29]This is a really cool shortcut in Mandarin where we can drop the noun completely.

[00:01:34]It's the equivalent of saying 'the red one' or 'the big one' in English.

[00:01:39]And finally, emphasis.

[00:01:41]We use a specific structure with 的 (de) to emphasize how, when, or where something happened.

[00:01:47]Don't worry if this sounds like a lot right now. We are going to go through each of these step-by-step with clear examples.

[00:01:54]Let's look at the first one.

[00:01:56]Function number one is possession.

[00:01:58]This is arguably the most common way you will use 的 (de).

[00:02:02]The basic rule is very simple.

[00:02:04]Noun or pronoun plus 的 (de) plus noun.

[00:02:08]To show that something belongs to someone, you just put 的 (de) right between them.

[00:02:13]If you want a helpful English comparison, think of 的 (de) as the apostrophe S in English.

[00:02:19]Let's look at our examples.

[00:02:20]How do you say 'my cat'?

[00:02:23]'I' or 'me' is 我 (wǒ).

[00:02:25]'Cat' is 猫 (māo).

[00:02:27]To put them together, we use our bridge.

[00:02:30]我的猫 (wǒ de māo).

[00:02:32]Literally, 'I apostrophe S cat'.

[00:02:35]What about 'dad's watch'?

[00:02:37]'Dad' is 爸爸 (bàba).

[00:02:39]'Watch' is 手表 (shǒubiǎo).

[00:02:41]So 'dad's watch' becomes 爸爸的手表 (bàba de shǒubiǎo).

[00:02:45]Whenever you want to show ownership, just remember to use 的 (de).

[00:02:50]Moving on to function number two: description.

[00:02:53]The basic rule here is adjective plus 的 (de) plus noun.

[00:02:58]In English, we usually just put an adjective right next to a noun, like 'red apple'.

[00:03:03]But in Chinese, when an adjective describes a noun, we frequently use 的 (de) to link them together.

[00:03:08]It tells the listener, "Hey, the word I just said is describing the thing I'm about to say."

[00:03:14]Let's practice with our examples.

[00:03:17]'Red' is 红色 (hóngsè).

[00:03:19]'Apple' is 苹果 (píngguǒ).

[00:03:20]To say 'red apples,' we say 红色的苹果 (hóngsè de píngguǒ).

[00:03:25]Let's try another one.

[00:03:27]'Delicious,' specifically for drinks, is 好喝 (hǎohē).

[00:03:30]'Coffee' is 咖啡 (kāfēi).

[00:03:33]So 'delicious coffee' is 好喝的咖啡 (hǎohē de kāfēi).

[00:03:37]Just link your descriptive word to your object using 的 (de).

[00:03:41]Now for function number three: the '的 (de) phrase.'

[00:03:45]This is incredibly useful for everyday conversations.

[00:03:49]What is it?

[00:03:50]It's the equivalent of saying 'the something one' in English.

[00:03:54]Here is the rule.

[00:03:55]If the context is already clear to both people speaking, you can just remove the noun entirely and say adjective or verb plus 的 (de).

[00:04:05]Let's look at a real-life scenario at a clothing shop to understand this better.

[00:04:09]Person A asks, 你想买哪件衣服？(nǐ xiǎng mǎi nǎ jiàn yīfú?), meaning, "Which clothes do you want to buy?"

[00:04:16]Now, person B could say, "I want the red clothes," but because we already know we are talking about clothes, B can just say, 我要红色的 (wǒ yào hóngsè de), meaning, "I want the red one."

[00:04:28]By stopping at 的 (de), it implies the noun we were just talking about.

[00:04:32]It saves time and makes your Chinese sound much more natural.

[00:04:36]Our fourth and final key function is emphasis.

[00:04:40]This uses a very specific grammatical sandwich: the 是...的 (shì...de) structure.

[00:04:46]The basic rule is 是 (shì) plus the information you want to emphasize, plus verb, plus 的 (de).

[00:04:52]We use this specifically for past events to highlight the time, the place, or the manner in which something happened.

[00:04:59]The action is already finished, but we want to highlight how it was done.

[00:05:03]Look at our example.

[00:05:05]他是坐飞机来的 (tā shì zuò fēijī lái de), meaning, "He came by plane."

[00:05:10]We already know he arrived, the past event.

[00:05:13]But what we are emphasizing is how he got here.

[00:05:16]He 是 (shì) take plane 坐飞机 (zuò fēijī) come 来 (lái) 的 (de).

[00:05:22]By wrapping the transportation method in the 是...的 (shì...de) structure, we draw the listener's attention to the fact that he flew here rather than drove or took a train.

[00:05:31]You guys have done a great job.

[00:05:33]Let's wrap up today's lesson with a quick summary chart of everything we just learned about 的 (de).

[00:05:39]First is possession.

[00:05:41]We use it to show ownership.

[00:05:43]Structure: noun plus 的 (de) plus noun.

[00:05:46]Example: 我的书 (wǒ de shū), 'my book.'

[00:05:50]Second is description.

[00:05:51]We use it to connect adjectives to nouns.

[00:05:54]Structure: adjective plus 的 (de) plus noun.

[00:05:58]Example: 漂亮的猫 (piàoliang de māo), 'beautiful cat.'

[00:06:02]Third is the '的 (de) phrase.'

[00:06:04]We use it to replace a known noun, like saying 'the something one.'

[00:06:09]Structure: adjective or verb plus 的 (de).

[00:06:12]Example: 我要红的 (wǒ yào hóng de), meaning 'I want the red one.'

[00:06:17]And finally, emphasis.

[00:06:19]We use the 是...的 (shì...de) structure to highlight details of a past event.

[00:06:24]Example: 我是昨天来的 (wǒ shì zuótiān lái de), meaning 'I came yesterday,' emphasizing 'yesterday.'

[00:06:31]I highly recommend taking a screenshot of this summary page to use as a cheat sheet.

[00:06:36]Keep practicing these four structures, and soon using 的 (de) will feel completely natural to you.

[00:06:42]Thanks again for joining today's self-study Mandarin lesson.

[00:06:46]Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share, and I'll see you next time.

[00:06:53]What nationality is your Chinese teacher?

[00:06:59]What nationality is your Chinese teacher?

[00:07:07]My teacher is David from the UK.

[00:07:13]My teacher is David from the UK.

[00:07:23]Why are older brother's clothes all on the bed?

[00:07:29]Why are older brother's clothes all on the bed?

[00:07:37]He didn't wash his clothes last night.

[00:07:43]He didn't wash his clothes last night.

[00:07:52]Our dog loves to eat apples the most.

[00:07:58]Our dog loves to eat apples the most.

[00:08:07]What does your cat like to eat?

[00:08:12]What does your cat like to eat?

[00:08:21]Is that beautiful watch yours?

[00:08:27]Is that beautiful watch yours?

[00:08:36]No, this is my older sister's watch.

[00:08:42]No, this is my older sister's watch.

[00:08:51]Does your company's manager come every day?

[00:08:57]Does your company's manager come every day?

[00:09:06]Our manager doesn't come to work on Saturdays.

[00:09:12]Our manager doesn't come to work on Saturdays.

[00:09:21]Is younger sister's bicycle outside the door?

[00:09:27]Is younger sister's bicycle outside the door?

[00:09:35]Her bicycle is at school now.

[00:09:41]Her bicycle is at school now.

[00:09:50]Where are your classmates?

[00:09:56]Where are your classmates?

[00:10:04]Our classmates are all studying in the classroom.

[00:10:10]Our classmates are all studying in the classroom.

[00:10:19]My friend's computer can't get online.

[00:10:25]My friend's computer can't get online.

[00:10:34]Your friend can bring it tomorrow to have a look.

[00:10:40]Your friend can bring it tomorrow to have a look.

[00:10:49]What color new clothes do you want to buy?

[00:10:54]What color new clothes do you want to buy?

[00:11:02]I want to buy a white new piece of clothing.

[00:11:08]I want to buy a white new piece of clothing.

[00:11:17]Where are the tasty apples bought yesterday?

[00:11:23]Where are the tasty apples bought yesterday?

[00:11:31]Those tasty apples are all on the table.

[00:11:38]Those tasty apples are all on the table.

[00:11:47]Is that very tall person your older brother?

[00:11:53]Is that very tall person your older brother?

[00:12:02]Yes, that very tall person is my older brother.

[00:12:08]Yes, that very tall person is my older brother.

[00:12:17]Do you like that very cheap cell phone?

[00:12:23]Do you like that very cheap cell phone?

[00:12:31]I don't like that very cheap cell phone.

[00:12:37]I don't like that very cheap cell phone.

[00:12:46]This is a very interesting book.

[00:12:52]This is a very interesting book.

[00:13:00]I also want to read that interesting book.

[00:13:06]I also want to read that interesting book.

[00:13:15]There are several very cute puppies outside.

[00:13:21]There are several very cute puppies outside.

[00:13:30]I like that black puppy the most.

[00:13:36]I like that black puppy the most.

[00:13:44]Did you watch a very good movie yesterday?

[00:13:50]Did you watch a very good movie yesterday?

[00:13:59]Yes, that was a very good movie.

[00:14:05]Yes, that was a very good movie.

[00:14:14]Of the cups here, which one is yours?

[00:14:20]Of the cups here, which one is yours?

[00:14:28]That red cup is mine.

[00:14:34]That red cup is mine.

[00:14:42]Do you like the red one or the white one?

[00:14:48]Do you like the red one or the white one?

[00:14:57]I think the white one looks better than the red one.

[00:15:03]I think the white one looks better than the red one.

[00:15:13]Of the watermelons bought yesterday, which one did you eat?

[00:15:19]Of the watermelons bought yesterday, which one did you eat?

[00:15:27]I ate the big one, not the small one.

[00:15:33]I ate the big one, not the small one.

[00:15:42]Whose book is this?

[00:15:46]Is it yours?

[00:15:51]Whose book is this?

[00:15:54]Is it yours?

[00:16:01]It's not mine, it's the new classmate's.

[00:16:07]It's not mine, it's the new classmate's.

[00:16:16]Of the apples here, how much do you want to buy?

[00:16:22]Of the apples here, how much do you want to buy?

[00:16:32]I want to buy the 10 yuan cheap ones.

[00:16:37]I want to buy the 10 yuan cheap ones.

[00:16:46]This dish was not made by me, it was made by her.

[00:16:52]This dish was not made by me, it was made by her.

[00:17:01]The one she made is tastier than the one you made.

[00:17:07]The one she made is tastier than the one you made.

[00:17:16]So many pens, which one did you buy?

[00:17:22]So many pens, which one did you buy?

[00:17:30]This black pen is the one I bought.

[00:17:36]This black pen is the one I bought.

[00:17:44]Is the person wearing red clothes your teacher?

[00:17:51]Is the person wearing red clothes your teacher?

[00:17:59]No, the one wearing white clothes is.

[00:18:05]No, the one wearing white clothes is.

[00:18:14]When did you come to China to study?

[00:18:20]When did you come to China to study?

[00:18:28]I came to China to study in August last year.

[00:18:34]I came to China to study in August last year.

[00:18:43]How did you go to the hospital to see a doctor?

[00:18:49]How did you go to the hospital to see a doctor?

[00:18:58]We went to the hospital by bus.

[00:19:04]We went to the hospital by bus.

[00:19:13]Where did you learn your Chinese?

[00:19:19]Where did you learn your Chinese?

[00:19:27]I learned my Chinese at Peking University.

[00:19:34]I learned my Chinese at Peking University.

[00:19:43]Who did you eat with yesterday?

[00:19:49]Who did you eat with yesterday?

[00:19:57]I ate with my good friend.

[00:20:03]I ate with my good friend.

[00:20:12]Where was this beautiful cup bought?

[00:20:18]Where was this beautiful cup bought?

[00:20:27]It was bought at a very small shop.

[00:20:33]It was bought at a very small shop.

[00:20:42]What time did you go to the train station to pick her up?

[00:20:48]What time did you go to the train station to pick her up?

[00:20:56]I went to pick her up at 2:30 in the afternoon.

[00:21:02]I went to pick her up at 2:30 in the afternoon.

[00:21:11]How did you know about this question?

[00:21:15]How did you know about this question?

[00:21:22]I knew it from reading today's newspaper.

[00:21:26]I knew it from reading today's newspaper.