的
’s: whose it is (the owner comes first)
Structure
名词／代词 + 的 + 名词
What it means
的 shows who something belongs to, like English ’s. The owner always comes first.
How it is built
Owner + 的 + thing: 大卫的手机 (David's phone). Pronoun + 的: 我的 my, 你的 your, 他的 his: 这是我的新手机 (This is my new phone).
When to use it
After 我, 你, 他 and so on, 的 is usually left out before a family member or someone close: 我妈妈, 你哥哥, 她男朋友. Between two nouns keep it: 我姐姐的男朋友.
Watch out
Keep the owner first: ✗ 手机的大卫 ✓ 大卫的手机. Don't drop 的 between two nouns: ✗ 我哥哥手机 ✓ 我哥哥的手机.
Examples
这是我的新手机。
This is my new phone.
那是我哥哥的手机。
That’s my older brother’s phone.
爸爸的爸爸是爷爷。
Dad’s dad is Grandpa.
我妈妈是老师。
My mum is a teacher. (family: no 的)
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 3: 这是我姐姐 (Family photos)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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