of in Chinese

How to write 的

Animated stroke order — tap a character to replay. Look up any character's stroke order → Printable writing worksheet for 的 →

的 is listed in the official HSK vocabulary at HSK 1. The beginner band covers the first, most essential words every learner needs.

的 in a sentence

• 这zhè是shì我wǒ的de书shū。

  This is my book.

• 红hóng色sè的de苹píng果guǒ很hěn好hǎo吃chī。

  Red apples are delicious.

• 她tā是shì我wǒ的de老lǎo师shī。

  She is my teacher.

的 vs 得 vs 地

Similar and easily confused words, and how they differ.

• 得 de complement particle

  Same sound de, opposite job: 的 attaches description or possession BEFORE a noun (我的书); 得 links a verb to its degree/manner AFTER it (跑得很快 'runs fast').

• 地 de adverbial particle

  The third de: 地 turns a phrase into an adverb BEFORE a verb (慢慢地走 'walk slowly'). Written differently, pronounced the same.