Character

的

de HSK 1

dì HSK 4

dí HSK 5

的 de HSK 1

1. structural particle used after an attributive: ① general modifier before a noun ② possessive modifier ③ attributive is a person's name or pronoun, head noun is a role or identity ④ head noun combines with a preceding verb to express an action, attributive is the object of that action
2. particle used to form a headless '的' nominal structure: ① substitutes for a person or thing mentioned above ② refers to a certain type of person or thing ③ indicates a situation or reason ④ pronoun + 的 as object, indicating the matter is unrelated to that person ⑤ same verb/adjective before and after 的 in parallel structures, indicating variety
3. particle placed between verb and object to emphasize the agent, time, manner, or place of an action (used for past events)
4. (colloq.) modal particle placed after certain words at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize the situation they express
5. particle used after two words or phrases of the same type to mean 'and so on, and the like'
6. (colloq.) particle used between two quantifiers: ① indicating multiplication ② indicating addition
7. archaic variant of '得'
8. modal particle used at the end of a sentence to express strong affirmation
9. modal particle used at the end of a sentence to indicate that something has already happened and to reinforce affirmation
10. (colloq.) particle used between two quantifiers to indicate enumeration
11. particle used at the end of a declarative sentence to express an affirmative tone

Words using 的 as de (4)

1 有的 yǒu de — some HSK 1
- 有 have, exist (forms the base meaning of possession/existence)
- 的 nominalizing particle (converts the verb into a pronoun meaning 'some ones')
Example

有的人喜欢喝茶，有的人喜欢喝咖啡。

yǒu de rén xǐ huan hē chá yǒu de rén xǐ huan hē kā fēi

Some people like to drink tea, some people like to drink coffee.
2 别的 bié de — other HSK 3
- 别 other, different, separate
- 的 structural particle that forms a pronoun
Example

我没有别的问题了。

wǒ méi yǒu bié de wèn tí le

I don't have any other questions.
3 的话 de huà — if HSK 3
- 的 forms conditional structure with 话; contributes to 'if' meaning
- 话 completes conditional marker with 的; literally 'words/speech' but forms 'if' when combined
Example

你有时间的话，我们一起去看电影。

nǐ yǒu shí jiān de huà wǒ men yì qǐ qù kàn diàn yǐng

If you have time, let's go watch a movie together.
4 似的 shì de — like HSK 5
- 似 resemblance, similarity
- 的 particle forming a comparative suffix
Example

天空蓝得像大海似的。

tiān kōng lán de xiàng dà hǎi shì de

The sky is blue like the ocean.

的 dì HSK 4

1. the center of an archery target; bull's-eye
2. a surname

Words using 的 as dì (3)

1 目的 mù dì — purpose HSK 4
- 目 target, direction (literally 'eye', metaphorically 'what one looks toward')
- 的 target, mark, bull's-eye (the specific point aimed at)
Example

我们旅行的目的是放松心情。

wǒ men lǚ xíng de mù dì shì fàng sōng xīn qíng

The purpose of our trip is to relax.
2 目的地 mù dì dì — destination HSK 4
- 目 aim, objective, goal
- 的 connecting particle linking 'aim' to 'place'
- 地 place, location, ground
Example

我们终于到达了目的地。

wǒ men zhōng yú dào dá le mù dì dì

We finally arrived at our destination.
3 有的放矢 yǒu dì fàng shǐ — to have a clear aim; targeted; purposeful HSK 7
- 有 to have; indicates possession of a target
- 的 target; the mark or objective to aim at
- 放 to release/shoot; the action of shooting an arrow
- 矢 arrow; the projectile being aimed and shot
Example

我们应该有的放矢地解决问题，不能盲目行动。

wǒ men yīng gāi yǒu dì fàng shǐ de jiě jué wèn tí bù néng máng mù xíng dòng

We should solve problems with a clear aim, not act blindly.

的 dí HSK 5

1. (lit.) truly; indeed; certainly
2. (lit.) correct; right

Words using 的 as dí (1)

Structure & writing

的 de — structural particle used after an attributive: ① general modifier before a noun ② possessive modifier ③ attributive is a person's name or pronoun, head noun is a role or identity ④ head noun combines with a preceding verb to express an action, attributive is the object of that action

Xpinyin

的 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

1 白 bái — white (color like snow or milk, opposite of black)

白 is a component in 19 characters

HSK 1

百 bǎi hundred (the number 100) 的 de structural particle used after an attributive: ① general modifier before a noun ② possessive modifier ③ attributive is a person's name or pronoun, head noun is a role or identity ④ head noun combines with a preceding verb to express an action, attributive is the object of that action

HSK 3

怕 pà to fear; to be afraid of 拍 pāi to slap or pat with the palm or a flat object 泉 quán spring water

HSK 4

貌 mào appearance, looks

HSK 6