Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
You can drop the particle {的|de} when talking about very close family members or extremely tight-knit relationships.
- Use for immediate family: {我|wǒ}{妈妈|māma} (my mom).
- Use for close personal ties: {我|wǒ}{朋友|péngyǒu} (my friend).
- Keep {的|de} for distant objects: {我|wǒ}{的|de}{书|shū} (my book).
Overview
的 (de) serves a primary function of indicating possession or modification, similar to "'s or of in English. For instance, 我的书 (wǒ de shū) directly translates to my book." However, a fascinating and fundamental aspect of spoken Chinese, particularly evident at the A1 level, is the frequent omission of 的 when expressing relationships that are considered inherently close or intimate. This is not simply a matter of informal speech; it reflects a deep-seated linguistic principle that prioritizes efficiency and signals the nature of the bond between the possessor and the possessed.的 is crucial for sounding natural and comprehending the nuances of everyday Chinese conversation.的 becomes redundant. For beginners, mastering this omission is a key step towards internalizing the rhythm and natural flow of the language, moving beyond a literal, word-for-word translation from their native tongue.How This Grammar Works
的 is primarily used to link a modifier to a noun, where that modification or possession is *not* an inherent part of the noun's identity. For example, a 车 (chē, car) is not inherently 'yours'; your ownership is an external, acquired attribute.我的车 (wǒ de chē) requires 的.妈妈 (māma, mother) is inherently 'your' mother; the relationship is fundamental and unchanging. Your 手 (shǒu, hand) is an inseparable part of your body. In these instances, the possessive particle 的 becomes superfluous.的.的 indicates that the noun directly following the pronoun (or possessor) is considered part of an intrinsic unit. It’s a grammatical signal of intimacy and assumed belonging.我爸 (wǒ bà, my dad) instead of 我的爸爸 (wǒ de bàba), you are processing or conveying an immediate, direct, and unmediated connection, much like saying Mom instead of my mother in English often implies greater familiarity.
Formation Pattern
的 (de). There are no complex conjugations or tonal changes involved, only a direct sequence.
我 (wǒ) - I/my | | 妈妈 (māma) - mother |
你 (nǐ) - you/your | | 哥哥 (gēge) - older brother |
他 (tā) - he/his | | 头 (tóu) - head |
我们 (wǒmen) - we/our | | 学校 (xuéxiào) - school |
我的妈妈 (wǒ de māma), you form 我妈妈 (wǒ māma). Similarly, 你的手 (nǐ de shǒu) becomes 你手 (nǐ shǒu). The simplicity of this structure belies its profound impact on naturalness and fluidity in spoken Chinese. The key is to internalize which categories of nouns permit this omission.
我姐姐 (wǒ jiějie) - my older sister (direct and natural, instead of 我的姐姐)
你朋友 (nǐ péngyou) - your friend (common in casual speech, though nuanced)
他公司 (tā gōngsī) - his company (referring to the company he works for or owns, indicating close affiliation)
When To Use It
的 emphasizes this intrinsic bond.的 with close family members can sound overly formal, distant, or even like you're identifying them for a third party rather than referring to your own. For instance, 我妈妈 (wǒ māma) is the standard and warmest way to say my mother. Using 我的妈妈 (wǒ de māma) might be heard in a formal speech or in a situation where you are distinguishing *your* mother from someone else's, but it's less common in everyday conversation.我爸(wǒ bà) /我爸爸(wǒ bàba) - my dad我妈(wǒ mā) /我妈妈(wǒ māma) - my mom我哥(wǒ gē) /我哥哥(wǒ gēge) - my older brother我姐(wǒ jiě) /我姐姐(wǒ jiějie) - my older sister我弟(wǒ dì) /我弟弟(wǒ dìdi) - my younger brother我妹(wǒ mèi) /我妹妹(wǒ mèimei) - my younger sister我孩子(wǒ háizi) - my child/children
你哥哥会说中文吗？ (Nǐ gēge huì shuō Zhōngwén ma?) - Can your older brother speak Chinese?(Sounds very natural).
的 is almost universally omitted when referring to one's own or another's body parts. Using 的 here, such as 我的手 (wǒ de shǒu), can sound strangely detached, as if you're holding a separate hand that belongs to you rather than referring to your own integrated body part.我头(wǒ tóu) - my head (我头很疼。Wǒ tóu hěn téng. -My head really hurts.
)你手(nǐ shǒu) - your hand (你手怎么了？Nǐ shǒu zěnme le? -What happened to your hand?
)他脸(tā liǎn) - his face (他脸上有很多痘痘。Tā liǎnshàng yǒu hěn duō dòudou. -He has many pimples on his face.
)我们眼睛(wǒmen yǎnjing) - our eyes
我家(wǒ jiā) - my home/family. This is one of the most frequently used phrases without的. It represents a fundamental belonging.
我回家了。 (Wǒ huí jiā le.) - "I've come home."我们学校(wǒmen xuéxiào) - our school. Refers to the school you attend or are affiliated with.
我们学校很大。 (Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.) - Our school is very big.
我们公司(wǒmen gōngsī) - our company. Refers to the company you work for.
他下周会来我们公司。 (Tā xià zhōu huì lái wǒmen gōngsī.) - He will come to our company next week.
你国家(nǐ guójiā) - your country (though你的国家is also common depending on context and desired formality).
朋友 (péngyou, friend) often omits 的 in casual conversation, especially when referring to a specific, well-known friend. This omission signals intimacy and a casual, direct relationship. However, 我的朋友 is also perfectly acceptable and sometimes preferred for clarity or less intimate friends.我朋友(wǒ péngyou) - my friend.
我朋友叫小明。 (Wǒ péngyou jiào Xiǎomíng.) - My friend is called Xiaoming.
的 is likely to be dropped. This not only makes your speech more fluent but also conveys a subtle layer of meaning about the closeness of the relationship.
When Not To Use It
的 can lead to grammatical errors, unnatural speech, or even misunderstandings. It's equally important to understand when 的 must be retained.的 is essential to establish possession. These are items that you *own* but are not inherently *part of* you or a core relationship.- Correct:
我的书(wǒ de shū) - my book. Incorrect:我书(wǒ shū). - Correct:
你的手机(nǐ de shǒujī) - your mobile phone. Incorrect:你手机(nǐ shǒujī). While in *very* fast, casual speech, native speakers might occasionally omit it for common objects (e.g.,手机在哪儿？Shǒujī zài nǎ'er? - "Where's my phone?" where我的is implied), for A1 learners, always use的for general possessions. - Correct:
他的车(tā de chē) - his car. Incorrect:他车(tā chē).
的 is to link an adjective or an adjectival phrase to a noun. When 的 functions in this way, it cannot be omitted. This is a critical distinction from its possessive role.- Connecting Adjectives:
漂亮的衣服(piàoliang de yīfu) - beautiful clothes. Here,的links漂亮(beautiful) to衣服(clothes). Omitting it (漂亮衣服piàoliang yīfu) is sometimes possible for fixed, common phrases (like好人hǎorén - good person), but generally leads to incorrect grammar or a different meaning. - Connecting Phrases:
跑步的人(pǎobù de rén) - the person who is running/running person.的links the action跑步(to run) to人(person), turning the verb phrase into an adjective.
的 is necessary. This includes acquaintances, colleagues (unless referring to 公司 as a collective), or more distant relatives.我老板的秘书(wǒ lǎobǎn de mìshū) - my boss's secretary. Here,的is needed because秘书(mìshū) is not inherently 'your' secretary, nor is the boss-secretary relationship considered as intrinsic as family.那位老师的课(nà wèi lǎoshī de kè) - that teacher's class. The class belongs to the teacher, but it's not an intrinsic part of the teacher in the same way a body part is.
的 (特定名词需要“的” | tèdìng míngcí xūyào 'de'):的 because they are not considered part of the core family unit in the same way parents or siblings are. This is often due to them being more modern relational terms or having a slightly different nuance.我的男朋友(wǒ de nánpéngyou) - my boyfriend. While you might hear我男友(wǒ nányǒu) in very casual, shortened forms,我男朋友often retains的. The same applies to我的女朋友(wǒ de nǚpéngyou).我的同事(wǒ de tóngshì) - my colleague. The professional relationship, while close, is not usually considered intrinsic enough to omit的.
的 Usage:的 Omitted (Pattern: Possessor + Noun) | 的 Retained (Pattern: Possessor + 的 + Noun) |我爸, 你妈, 他姐 | *(Rarely, for formality/distance)* |我手, 你头, 他脸 | *(Almost never, sounds unnatural)* |我家, 我们学校, 我们公司 | 你的国家 (can be used for emphasis/formality) |我朋友 (casual) | 我的朋友 (standard, less intimate) |我的车, 你的书, 他的手机 |漂亮的衣服, 好玩的游戏 |我的老板, 你的同事 |
Common Mistakes
Possessive Pet Error:的 should be omitted. While emotionally true, grammatically, pets are generally treated as general possessions in standard Mandarin. Saying 我猫 (wǒ māo) for my cat is generally considered ungrammatical or extremely colloquial to the point of sounding incorrect to many native speakers. The more natural constructions are 我的猫 (wǒ de māo) or, if referring to a family pet, 我家猫 (wǒ jiā māo) – literally "my family's cat," where 家 acts as a possessor without 的 in a common collocation.- Incorrect:
我狗很可爱。(Wǒ gǒu hěn kě'ài.) - Correct:
我的狗很可爱。(Wǒ de gǒu hěn kě'ài.) -My dog is very cute.
- Also Correct:
我家狗很可爱。(Wǒ jiā gǒu hěn kě'ài.) - "My family's dog is very cute."
Distant Dad Error (Over-inclusion of 的):的 for immediate family members (e.g., 我的爸爸, 我的妈妈, 我的哥哥). While technically grammatical, it sounds overly formal, stiff, and unnatural in everyday conversation. It creates a subtle but palpable emotional distance, much like a child always referring to my mother instead of Mom in English. For A1 learners, it's essential to actively practice omitting 的 for core family terms to sound more like a native speaker.- Less natural:
我的妈妈今天很高兴。(Wǒ de māma jīntiān hěn gāoxìng.) - More natural:
我妈妈今天很高兴。(Wǒ māma jīntiān hěn gāoxìng.) -My mom is very happy today.
Alien Hand Error (Over-inclusion for Body Parts):Distant Dad error, adding 的 when referring to body parts, such as 我的手 (wǒ de shǒu) for my hand, sounds peculiar and detached. It can evoke an image of a separate, possibly disembodied, hand that belongs to you, rather than your own integrated hand. The inherent connection is so strong that 的 is almost never used here.- Unnatural:
我的腿很酸。(Wǒ de tuǐ hěn suān.) - Natural:
我腿很酸。(Wǒ tuǐ hěn suān.) -My legs are sore.
我电脑 (wǒ diànnǎo) instead of 我的电脑 (wǒ de diànnǎo) for my computer. This is grammatically incorrect and will likely sound awkward or confusing to native speakers, as it implies a relationship that doesn't exist for general objects.- Incorrect:
我新手机很贵。(Wǒ xīn shǒujī hěn guì.) - Correct:
我的新手机很贵。(Wǒ de xīn shǒujī hěn guì.) -My new phone is very expensive.
Common Collocations
的 has become almost a fixed part of the expression. Memorizing these as complete units, without overthinking the grammar, can greatly enhance your fluency and comprehension. These collocations naturally embody the 'Close Relationship' Rule.我妈 | wǒ mā | my mom |我爸 | wǒ bà | my dad |我家 | wǒ jiā | my home/my family |我们学校 | wǒmen xuéxiào | our school |我们公司 | wǒmen gōngsī | our company |你心里 | nǐ xīnli | in your heart (lit. your heart inside) |他脸上 | tā liǎnshàng | on his face (lit. his face upon) |我朋友 | wǒ péngyou | my friend |你生日 | nǐ shēngrì | your birthday |我名字 | wǒ míngzi | my name |我生活 | wǒ shēnghuó | my life (as in my personal life/living) |的 is inherently absent due to the close or inseparable nature of the relationship they describe. Practicing these will make them second nature.Contrast With Similar Patterns
的 and related possessive structures. This prevents confusion and reinforces the unique role of this omission.的 as an Adjectival Particle vs. Possessive Particle:的 is not solely for possession. Its most frequent role is to connect a descriptive element (an adjective or an adjectival phrase) to a noun. This is a crucial distinction.的 functions as an adjectival particle, it is generally not optional, especially for multi-character adjectives or phrases.- Possessive
的(often omissible for close relations):我妈妈(wǒ māma) - my mom. - Adjectival
的(generally not omissible):漂亮的衣服(piàoliang de yīfu) - beautiful clothes. Here,漂亮(beautiful) describes衣服(clothes). You cannot say漂亮衣服(piàoliang yīfu) in most contexts without changing the nuance or sounding incomplete. While some common two-character adjective-noun pairs *can* drop的(e.g.,好人hǎorén - good person,新人xīnrén - new person), these are usually fixed expressions and not a general rule for adjectives.
的 or even a pronoun, especially when the possessor is clear from the situation. This is related to the 'Close Relationship' Rule but is a broader phenomenon.- Contextual Implied Possession: Imagine someone asking,
手机在哪儿？(Shǒujī zài nǎ'er?) - "Where's the phone?" In a home setting, it's understood to mean "Where's *my* phone?orWhere's *your* phone?" depending on who is speaking and listening. No我or我的is needed. This is an advanced simplification for A1 learners to be aware of, but it is distinct from the 'Close Relationship' Rule where a pronoun *is* explicitly stated, just without的.
有 | yǒu):的 expresses ownership, the verb 有 (yǒu, to have) is another fundamental way to express possession, particularly for existence or presence of an item.我有一本书。(Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū.) -I have one book.
Here,有clearly states possession. You wouldn't use我的书to meanI have a book,
but rather to meanmy book.
的 when a pronoun (or other possessor) directly precedes a noun, and their connection is inherently tight. It doesn't replace the other functions of 的 or other possessive structures; rather, it defines a specific context where 的 becomes redundant due to the nature of the relationship.Quick FAQ
的 (de) when referring to proper names, like 我Steve (wǒ Steve)?No, this is generally incorrect. 我Steve sounds like I am Steve or treats Steve as an object you possess, which is unnatural and grammatically flawed in this context. When referring to someone named Steve who is your friend, you would say 我的朋友Steve (wǒ de péngyou Steve) or, in extremely casual speech where Steve is very well known to both parties, you might hear 我朋友Steve (wǒ péngyou Steve), using the rule for 朋友. But you would never directly attach a personal pronoun to a proper name without 的 for possession.
的? Does it imply disrespect?Quite the opposite. Omitting 的 in the appropriate contexts (family, body parts, close institutions) implies a natural, warm, and intimate relationship. It makes your speech sound more authentic and less formal. Always using 的 for these close relationships can sometimes create an unintended sense of distance or formality, which might be perceived as slightly unnatural, though not necessarily rude.
的s in a phrase, like 我的哥哥的朋友 (wǒ de gēge de péngyou)?This is a great observation about linguistic efficiency. When multiple 的s appear in close succession, Chinese speakers often omit the first 的 to improve flow, especially if the first possessor is a personal pronoun and the relationship is close. So, 我哥哥的朋友 (wǒ gēge de péngyou) - "my older brother's friend" - is much more common and natural than 我的哥哥的朋友. The rationale is that the 我哥哥 (wǒ gēge) relationship is inherently close, allowing for 的 omission, while 哥哥的朋友 (gēge de péngyou) maintains 的 to link the brother to his friend. This showcases a hierarchy of closeness.
As discussed in 'Common Mistakes,' while emotionally your pet might be family, grammatically, pets are typically treated as general possessions in standard Mandarin. So, 我的猫 (wǒ de māo) - my cat - is the correct and most common usage. If you want to convey the family pet idea, 我家猫 (wǒ jiā māo) - "my family's cat" - is a very natural and common collocation. This uses the 家 (jiā) close relationship rule to indirectly imply the pet's status.
的 for general objects, but it's very informal?Yes, in extremely casual, fast-paced speech, or when the context is overwhelmingly clear, native speakers might occasionally omit 的 even for general objects, especially short, common nouns. For example, 钥匙在哪儿？ (Yàoshi zài nǎ'er?) could be understood as
Where are *my* keys?However, for A1 learners, it's highly recommended to always use
的 for general possessions (我的钥匙 wǒ de yàoshi) to avoid grammatical errors and ambiguity. This informal omission is an advanced nuance to observe, not to actively replicate at the beginner stage.
的 correctly and naturally, a skill that is fundamental to sounding fluent in Chinese.Possessive Structure
| Pronoun | Particle | Noun | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
我
|
的
|
书
|
我的书 (My book)
|
|
我
|
-
|
妈妈
|
我妈妈 (My mom)
|
|
你
|
的
|
车
|
你的车 (Your car)
|
|
你
|
-
|
爸爸
|
你爸爸 (Your dad)
|
|
他
|
的
|
猫
|
他的猫 (His cat)
|
|
他
|
-
|
哥哥
|
他哥哥 (His brother)
|
Meanings
The particle {的|de} is used to show possession, but in Chinese, when the relationship is 'inalienable' or very close, it is often omitted to sound more natural.
Immediate Family
Referring to parents, siblings, or spouses.
“{我|wǒ}{妈妈|māma}”
“{我|wǒ}{哥哥|gēge}”
Close Social Ties
Referring to best friends or intimate partners.
“{我|wǒ}{朋友|péngyǒu}”
“{我|wǒ}{同学|tóngxué}”
Reference Table
| 类别 | 地道表达 (不带“的”) | 正式/疏远 (带“的”) | 小笔记 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
家人
|
"我妈"
|
"我的妈妈"
|
日常聊天中，省略是默认做法。
|
|
身体部位
|
"我手"
|
"我的手"
|
描述疼痛或身体特征时用短的。
|
|
家
|
"我家"
|
"我的家"
|
"我家" 经常也可以指“我的家人”。
|
|
学校/工作
|
"我们学校"
|
"我们的学校"
|
暗示你属于这个集体。
|
|
物品 (对比)
|
---
|
"我的书"
|
在 A1 阶段，物品千万不能省掉“的”。
|
正式程度
我的母亲在这里。 (Family introduction)
我妈妈在这里。 (Family introduction)
我妈在这儿。 (Family introduction)
我妈在呢。 (Family introduction)
省略“的”的亲密圈
不加“的” (亲近)
- {妈|mā} 妈妈
- {家|jiā} 家
- {手|shǒu} 手
需要“的” (疏远)
- {书|shū} 书
- {钱|qián} 钱
- {车|chē} 车
我需要“的”吗？
是人吗？
是亲近的家人吗？
是身体部位或家吗？
要不要“的”
“的”之禁区
家人
- • {我妈|wǒ mā}
- • {你哥|nǐ gē}
- • {他姐|tā jiě}
身体
- • {我头|wǒ tóu}
- • {你脸|nǐ liǎn}
- • {他手|tā shǒu}
地点
- • {我家|wǒ jiā}
- • {我们学校|wǒmen xuéxiào}
- • {我们公司|wǒmen gōngsī}
按水平分级的例句
{我|wǒ}{妈妈|māma} {很|hěn} {好|hǎo}
{你|nǐ}{爸爸|bàba} {在|zài} {家|jiā} {吗|ma}?
{我|wǒ}{朋友|péngyǒu} {是|shì} {老师|lǎoshī}
{他|tā}{哥哥|gēge} {很|hěn} {高|gāo}
{我|wǒ}{太太|tàitai} {喜欢|xǐhuān} {咖啡|kāfēi}
{我们|wǒmen}{老师|lǎoshī} {很|hěn} {忙|máng}
{你|nǐ}{妹妹|mèimei} {几|jǐ} {岁|suì}?
{他|tā}{同学|tóngxué} {都|dōu} {在|zài} {这儿|zhèr}
{我|wǒ}{姐姐|jiějie} {在|zài} {北京|běijīng} {工作|gōngzuò}
{你|nǐ}{儿子|érzi} {长|zhǎng} {得|de} {真|zhēn} {快|kuài}!
{她|tā}{丈夫|zhàngfu} {是|shì} {医生|yīshēng}
{我|wǒ}{室友|shìyǒu} {明天|míngtiān} {回|huí} {家|jiā}
{你|nǐ}{女儿|nǚ'ér} {真|zhēn} {可爱|kě'ài}!
{他|tā}{爷爷|yéye} {今年|jīnnián} {八十|bāshí} {岁|suì}
{我|wǒ}{老板|lǎobǎn} {今天|jīnnián} {不|bù} {来|lái}
{你|nǐ}{奶奶|nǎinai} {身体|shēntǐ} {好|hǎo} {吗|ma}?
{我|wǒ}{外婆|wàipó} {做|zuò} {的|de} {菜|cài} {最|zuì} {好|hǎo} {吃|chī}
{他|tā}{未婚妻|wèihūnqī} {是|shì} {律师|lǜshī}
{你|nǐ}{表弟|biǎodì} {也|yě} {在|zài} {这儿|zhèr} {吗|ma}?
{我|wǒ}{导师|dǎoshī} {很|hěn} {严厉|yánlì}
{我|wǒ}{孙子|sūnzi} {今年|jīnnián} {上|shàng} {大学|dàxué}
{他|tā}{岳父|yuèfù} {是|shì} {位|wèi} {著名|zhùmíng} {画家|huàjiā}
{你|nǐ}{侄女|zhínǚ} {长|zhǎng} {得|de} {真|zhēn} {像|xiàng} {你|nǐ}
{我|wǒ}{挚友|zhìyǒu} {明天|míngtiān} {结婚|jiéhūn}
容易混淆
Both use the same character.
Learners add both.
Dropping 'de' for everything.
常见错误
我书
我的书
我的妈妈
我妈妈
我朋友的
我朋友
他妈妈的
他妈妈
我老师的
我老师
我的哥哥的
我哥哥
他太太的
他太太
我同学的
我同学
我的室友的
我室友
我老板的
我老板
我挚友的
我挚友
我外婆的
我外婆
我岳父的
我岳父
句型
我___很忙。
你___在哪儿？
我___是医生。
他___喜欢喝茶。
Real World Usage
我妈在做饭。
我朋友真棒！
我父亲是老师。
我要我的咖啡。
我哥哥也去。
我老师很好。
“疼”字诀
集体荣誉感
名字后面不能省！
我David，那是在说“我是David”。你得说 我的David (My David)。Smart Tips
Drop the 'de' to sound like a native.
Always keep the 'de'.
Drop the 'de' for close friends.
Use 'de' for professional distance.
发音
Neutral tone
The particle {的|de} is always neutral tone.
Falling
我妈妈↘
Statement of fact.
记住它
记忆技巧
If they share your blood or your heart, the 'de' can depart!
视觉联想
Imagine a wall between you and your 'book' (needs a 'de' brick). Now imagine you and your 'mom' holding hands (no wall needed).
Rhyme
For mom and dad, no 'de' is sad, but for a car, it's needed far.
Story
I walked into my house. I saw my mom (no de). I saw my dad (no de). I picked up my book (with de). I felt very smart.
Word Web
挑战
Introduce three family members to a friend using this rule today.
文化笔记
Very common in daily life to drop the particle for family.
Similar usage, but sometimes more formal in business settings.
The influence of Cantonese often makes this even more common.
The particle {的|de} evolved from a marker of attribution.
对话开场白
你妈妈好吗?
你朋友是哪国人?
你哥哥做什么工作?
你太太喜欢什么运动?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
选出说“我妈妈在家”最自然的方式：
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Find and fix the mistake:
正式 vs 自然：{我的爸爸很忙|wǒ de bàba hěn máng}
Score: /3
练习题
8 exercises我___妈妈
我___书
Find and fix the mistake:
我书
我妈妈 vs 我的妈妈
妈妈 / 我 / 好
My dad
My friend
他___哥哥
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises怎么说“我头痛”？
怎么说“我的电脑”？
匹配短语和规则
{我的妈妈喜欢我的家|wǒ de māma xǐhuan wǒ de jiā}
___ 哥哥是医生 (___ older brother is a doctor).
匹配短形式和长形式
{我车很贵|wǒ chē hěn guì}
“我们学校”哪个最好？
什么时候用这些？
{我脚很大|wǒ jiǎo hěn dà} vs {我的书包很大|wǒ de shūbāo hěn dà}
Score: /10
常见问题 (8)
No, it's grammatically correct but sounds more formal.
Yes, if you are close, but keep 'de' for formal settings.
To show intimacy and closeness.
Yes, '我们老师' is very common.
It sounds like a mistake or a dialect.
Yes, it's standard across Chinese dialects.
Sometimes, if you treat them like family.
Think of it as a 'closeness' marker.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
mi madre
Chinese allows omission; Spanish does not.
ma mère
Chinese omission is a stylistic choice.
meine Mutter
German requires the pronoun.
watashi no haha
Japanese rarely omits the particle.
ummi
Chinese uses separate words.
我妈妈
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
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