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的

de

1. structural particle attributive marker — what precedes 的 modifies what follows

   她是一个善良的女孩。

   Tā shì yī gè shànliáng de nǚhái.

   She is a kind girl.

2. structural particle indicates possession

   你的书在那里，这本书是我的。

   Nǐ de shū zài nàlǐ, zhè běn shū shì wǒ de.

   Your book is over there; this one is mine.

3. structural particle forms a nominal 的-phrase

   花开了，有红的，有白的。

   Huā kāi le, yǒu hóng de, yǒu bái de.

   The flowers are out — some red ones, some white ones.

4. structural particle 是 + 的-phrase forms a judgment sentence

   他是男的。

   Tā shì nán de.

   He is male.

5. structural particle the emphatic 是……的 pattern

   我是在学校里看见他的。

   Wǒ shì zài xuéxiào lǐ kànjiàn tā de.

   It was at school that I saw him.

6. modal particle at the end of a statement, confirms or emphasizes a fact

   我没学过法语的。

   Wǒ méi xuéguo Fǎyǔ de.

   I really have never learned French.

7. modal particle expresses or confirms agreement or refusal

   好的。

   Hǎo de.

   OK.

8. structural particle in casual writing, stands in for 地 and 得

   真想美美的睡一觉。

   Zhēn xiǎng měiměi de shuì yī jiào.

   I really want to sleep soundly.

The full ChinesePath dictionary entry for 的 includes audio for every reading and example sentence, more example sentences, collocations, synonyms and links to the course units where it is taught.