Chinese Particle De: Detailed Explanations on the Chinese Grammar of 的, 地, 得

"" (How come you don't use accordingly?) Sometimes you will see Chinese people pointing out this grammatical error on the Internet... But relax, people on the Internet are stricter than people in real life.😅 These three important particles are the grammatical traffic cops that tell you exactly how words are relating to each other in a sentence. Basically, they’re your key to moving from being understood to writing with precision. Let's break down this trio, one friendly function at a time, for Chinese learners.

How to use the Chinese possessive and descriptive particle 的 (de)

Here’s something I’ve learned: is your foundation. It’s the most common of the three, and its job is beautifully straightforward — it creates a definitive link between a description and a noun, or shows possession. Think of it as the apostrophe-s (‘s) or the word “of” in English. It builds noun phrases. You’ll love its simplicity.

How to modify verbs in Chinese grammar with the particle 地 (de)

Now, (de)地 is where we shift gears from describing things to describing actions in Mandarin. This particle’s sole purpose is to turn an adjective into an adverb that modifies a verb. It’s the equivalent of adding “-ly” in English. If is static, (de)地 is all about the dynamics of the verb.

Take the adjective (Happy):

The particle (de)地 in the Chinese language directly answers the question "How is the verb being done?" Other classic examples are:

The downside to this is that in speech, and (de)地 sound the same. But in formal writing, newspapers, or books, using (de)地 correctly indicates polished skill. It shows you understand that the adjective’s target is the action, not a person or object.

How to use the post-verb complement particle 得 (de)

This one, , is my personal favorite because of its elegant logic. While (de)地 modifies a verb from the front, modifies a verb (or sometimes an adjective) from behind. Its specific job is to introduce a complement that describes the extent, degree, or result of the action. Basically, it tells you how well or to what state something is done.

Let’s use the verb “” (To sing). “” means she sings. Add , and you can now describe the quality: “” (She sings very well). That “” is the complement, hooked on by .

The quick-reference guide of using 的, 得 and 地 in Mandarin language

Okay, so we’ve met the trio. Let’s put them side-by-side in a way you can actually remember. The truth is, you don't need to memorize abstract rules — you need a simple filter.

Here’s a mental checklist I use:

Extensively watching Chinese videos to internalize the function of 的, 地, 得

There is no better place to learn particles than online Chinese videos! Most of the Chinese dramas and movies apply the usage of structural particles precisely.

The good news is, Migaku app can help generate Chinese subtitles even when the video does not feature any. For example, Migaku app can generate subtitles for this cut from The Knockout with the English translation. You can also click the words or sentences to add them to your flashcard collections and review them later. It can help you learn to grasp the grammar of Mandarin particles.

FAQs

Wait, do I need to phrase the sentence properly in my head before speaking?

For beginners, the answer is an unquestionable yes... Because every particle has its grammar structures, it is common that beginners need to pre-think the meanings they want to express, and the way to phrase them properly. It's the same, just like English learners need to ponder the word order before speaking! The good news is, as you consume more and more media, the rules will gradually become your second nature, and you will instinctively know the common combinations!

You will see solid progress! ！