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的 (de): possession and describing nouns

的 links a describer to a noun: 我的书 "my book", 红色的车 "the red car".

Whatever comes before 的 describes whatever comes after it, like English "'s" or "of".

With close relationships and very common pairs, 的 is often dropped: 我妈妈, 中国人.

A long describer still goes before the noun: 我昨天买的书 "the book I bought yesterday".

Pattern: Describer + 的 + noun

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• 这是我的手机。 Zhè shì wǒ de shǒujī.
  This is my phone.
• 他是我的朋友。 Tā shì wǒ de péngyou.
  He is my friend.

In real sentences

• 是的。
  Yes.
  Tatoeba: biglion
• 好的。
  Okay.
  Tatoeba: xjjAstrus
• 假的。
  Faking.
  Tatoeba: LeviHighway
• 你的？
  Yours?
  Tatoeba: LeviHighway
• 好的？
  OK?
  Tatoeba: atitarev
• 免费的。
  It's for free.
  Tatoeba: kimi

Before this lesson

This unlocks after: HSK 1 Core words 1, The four tones.

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