4.7: Lesson 3 Grammar - Expressing close possession without 的 (de)
- Page ID
- 65626
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
Expressing possession in Chinese is accomplished with the particle 的 (de, “belonging”). But sometimes when certain relationships are involved, especially close relationships, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).
Here are a couple cases where you can omit 的 (de):
- When a close personal relationship is involved (family, close friends, boyfriends or girlfriends)
- When an institutional or organizational relationship is involved (school, work)
In these cases 的 (de) should be omitted. It doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in.
Examples
- 我家很大。
Wǒ jiā hěn dà.
My house is very big.
- 你哥哥很高。
Nǐ gēge hěn gāo.
Your big brother is very tall.
- 这是我女朋友。
Zhè shì wǒ nǚpéngyou.
This is my girlfriend.
- 她妈妈很漂亮。
Tā māma hěn piàoliang.
Her mom is very pretty.
- 我们学校很大。
Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.
Our school is big.
- 他们公司在北京。
Tāmen gōngsī zài Běijīng.
Their company is in Bejing.
- 你男朋友很帅。
Nǐ nánpéngyou hěn shuài.
Your boyfriend is very handsome.
- 他儿子很有名。
Tā érzi hěn yǒumíng.
His son is really famous.
- 我女儿会说英语。
Wǒ nǚ'ér huì shuō Yīngyǔ.
My daughter can speak English.
- 他爸爸是我们公司的老板。
Tā bàba shì wǒmen gōngsī de lǎobǎn.
His dad is the boss of our company.
[adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]
* * *
Any Questions?
If you have any questions about this grammar point, please ask in the class forums!