Noun Phrases with '的'

01

Possession and Ownership

The most common use of 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê) corresponds to the English 's or the word of. It indicates that the noun belongs to someone or something.

• 我的书

  wǒ de shūㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄕㄨwo3 tê shu1

  My book

• 老师的名字

  lǎo·shī de míng·ziㄌㄠˇ·ㄕ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˊ·˙ㄗlao3·shih1 tê ming2·tsŭ

  The teacher's name

• 学校的门

  xué·xiào de ménㄒㄩㄝˊ·ㄒㄧㄠˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄣˊshüeh2·shiao4 tê mên2

  The school's door

02

Describing Nouns with Adjectives

When an adjective consists of two or more syllables, 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê) is generally required between the adjective and the noun. This turns the adjective into a specific attribute of that noun.

• 漂亮的房子

  piào·liang de fáng·ziㄆㄧㄠˋ·˙ㄌㄧㄤ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄈㄤˊ·˙ㄗp'iao4·liang tê fang2·tsŭ

  A beautiful house

• 红色的苹果

  hóng·sè de píng·guǒㄏㄨㄥˊ·ㄙㄜˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄆㄧㄥˊ·ㄍㄨㄛˇhung2·ssê4 tê p'ing2·ko3

  A red apple

• 很高兴的人

  hěn gāo·xìng de rénㄏㄣˇ ㄍㄠ·ㄒㄧㄥˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄖㄣˊhên3 kao1·shing4 tê jên2

  A very happy person

03

Complex Descriptions (Relative Clauses)

In English, complex descriptions usually come after the noun (e.g., "The man who is eating an apple"). In Mandarin, the description always comes before the noun, connected by 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê).

You can place verbs or entire phrases before 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê) to create these descriptions.

• 吃苹果的男人

  chī píng·guǒ de nán·rénㄔ ㄆㄧㄥˊ·ㄍㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄋㄢˊ·ㄖㄣˊch'ih1 p'ing2·ko3 tê nan2·jên2

  The man who eats apples (lit: Eat apple 'de' man)

• 我买的东西

  wǒ mǎi de dōng·xiㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄞˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄉㄨㄥ·˙ㄒㄧwo3 mai3 tê tung1·shi

  The things I bought (lit: I buy 'de' things)

• 喜欢喝茶的朋友

  xǐ·huan hē chá de péng·youㄒㄧˇ·˙ㄏㄨㄢ ㄏㄜ ㄔㄚˊ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄆㄥˊ·˙ㄧㄡshi3·huan ho1 ch'a2 tê p'êng2·yu

  A friend who likes to drink tea

04

Omitting the Noun

If the context is clear and everyone knows what object is being discussed, you can omit the noun after 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê). In this case, 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê) functions like the English words one or ones, or turns a pronoun into a possessive noun (like mine or yours).

• 这本书是我的。

  zhè běn shū shì wǒ de.ㄓㄜˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄕㄨ ㄕˋ ㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄉㄜ.chê4 pên3 shu1 shih4 wo3 tê.

  This book is mine.

• 我要大的。

  wǒ yào dà de.ㄨㄛˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄉㄚˋ ˙ㄉㄜ.wo3 yao4 ta4 tê.

  I want the big one.

• 他是卖水果的。

  tā shì mài shuǐ·guǒ de.ㄊㄚ ㄕˋ ㄇㄞˋ ㄕㄨㄟˇ·ㄍㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄉㄜ.t'a1 shih4 mai4 shui3·ko3 tê.

  He is the one who sells fruit (a fruit seller).

05

When to Omit '的'

There are specific instances where 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê) is usually dropped. This occurs primarily with close personal relationships (kinship) or when a monosyllabic adjective is intrinsically linked to the noun.

• Family and close relationships: You do not need to say 我的妈妈 (wǒ de mā·maㄨㄛˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄚ·˙ㄇㄚwo3 tê ma1·ma). It is more natural to say 我妈妈 (wǒ mā·maㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄚ·˙ㄇㄚwo3 ma1·ma).
• Monosyllabic adjectives: Single-syllable adjectives often attach directly to the noun without 的 (de˙ㄉㄜtê), creating a compound concept (e.g., 好人 (hǎo rénㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊhao3 jên2) - good person).

• 我爸爸是医生。

  wǒ bà·ba shì yī·shēng.ㄨㄛˇ ㄅㄚˋ·˙ㄅㄚ ㄕˋ ㄧ·ㄕㄥ.wo3 pa4·pa shih4 yi1·shêng1.

  My dad is a doctor.

• 他是好人。

  tā shì hǎo rén.ㄊㄚ ㄕˋ ㄏㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ.t'a1 shih4 hao3 jên2.

  He is a good person.