Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the particle {得|de} after a verb to describe the quality or degree of an action.
- Structure: Verb + 得 + Adjective (e.g., {跑|pǎo}得{快|kuài} - runs fast).
- Negative: Verb + 得 + 不 + Adjective (e.g., {跑|pǎo}得{不|bù}{快|kuài} - does not run fast).
- Question: Verb + 得 + Adjective + {吗|ma}? (e.g., {跑|pǎo}得{快|kuài}{吗|ma}? - does he run fast?).
Overview
得 (de). Unlike English, where adverbs typically precede the verb (e.g., “runs quickly”), Chinese often places the descriptive element *after* the verb, using 得 as a structural bridge. This structure allows you to evaluate the quality, outcome, or manner of an action that has already occurred or is habitual.得 acts as a crucial link, connecting a verb to a subsequent descriptive phrase—usually an adjective or an adverbial phrase—that elaborates on the action's performance. It shifts the focus from the action itself to the result or state achieved by that action. For example, to say He sings well, you construct it as 他唱歌唱得很好 (Tā chànggē chàng de hěn hǎo), literally He sings songs sings to a good degree.得 is fundamental because it introduces the concept of complements, a cornerstone of Chinese sentence structure. Mastering it allows for more nuanced and natural expression, moving beyond simple statements of action to evaluating performance and outcome. 得 itself is pronounced with a neutral tone (de), making its pronunciation straightforward, but its placement and associated rules are precise and essential for grammatical correctness.How This Grammar Works
得 functions as an evaluative statement, always appearing *after* the verb it modifies. Its core purpose is to describe the quality, result, or manner of an action. This post-verbal positioning is a defining characteristic of Chinese complements, where additional information about an action often follows the main verb.得 can be understood as signaling “to the extent that” or “resulting in.” When you say 他写字写得漂亮 (Tā xiězì xiě de piàoliang), you are stating that he writes characters and the *result or quality* of that writing is beautiful. The structure fundamentally separates the act from its description, emphasizing the latter. This allows for rich detail about the action's impact or characteristic.地 (de). While 地 describes the *manner in which an action is performed* (e.g., 他高兴地唱歌 – Tā gāoxìng de chànggē, He sings happily), 得 describes the *outcome or quality of the action's performance* (e.g., 他唱歌唱得很高兴 – Tā chànggē chàng de hěn gāoxìng, He sings and feels very happy from it). The distinction lies in focus: 地 highlights the process, while 得 highlights the result/evaluation.- Evaluative Nature: It judges or assesses the action.
- Post-Verbal Position: Always follows the verb it describes.
- Structural Particle:
得itself carries no lexical meaning but serves as a grammatical connector.
他跑 (Tā pǎo) is a simple statement, He runs. Adding 得 with an adjective allows for evaluation: 他跑得很快 (Tā pǎo de hěn kuài), He runs very fast. This structure is versatile, applying to abilities, habits, and specific instances of action.
Formation Pattern
得 follows specific patterns. Mastery of these structures is crucial for accurate expression. Note that pinyin includes tone marks.
得 + Adjective/Adverbial Phrase
很 – hěn, 非常 – fēicháng) before the adjective or adverbial phrase.
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 她跳舞跳得好 | Tā tiàowǔ tiào de hǎo | She dances well. (often 很好) |
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 他睡得香 | Tā shuì de xiāng | He sleeps soundly. (often 很香) |
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 你来得早 | Nǐ lái de zǎo | You came early. (often 很早) |
很 (hěn, very) often precedes the adjective. While 他跳舞跳得好 is grammatically correct, 他跳舞跳得很好 sounds more natural and less like a direct comparison.
得 and the descriptive element. This repetition is essential to maintain the verb-得 structure and avoid placing the object between the verb and 得.
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 我打篮球打得很好 | Wǒ dǎ lánqiú dǎ de hěn hǎo | I play basketball very well. |
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 她做饭做得非常快 | Tā zuòfàn zuò de fēicháng kuài | She cooks very fast. |
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 他讲故事讲得生动 | Tā jiǎng gùshì jiǎng de shēngdòng | He tells stories vividly. (often 很生动) |
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 篮球他打得很好 | Lánqiú tā dǎ de hěn hǎo | As for basketball, he plays it well. |\
得 + (Degree Adverb) + Adjective/Phrase | 饭她做得非常快 | Fàn tā zuò de fēicháng kuài | As for cooking, she does it very fast. |\
不 (bù) directly before the descriptive adjective or phrase. The adverb of degree (很, 非常, etc.) is typically omitted in the negative.
得 + 不 + Adjective/Phrase | 我跑得不快 | Wǒ pǎo de bú kuài | I don't run fast. |\
得 + 不 + Adjective/Phrase | 你中文说得不好 | Nǐ Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo | You don't speak Chinese well. |\
怎么样 (zěnmeyàng, how/how is it?)
得 + 怎么样? | 你考得怎么样? | Nǐ kǎo de zěnmeyàng? | How did you do on the exam? |\
得 + 怎么样? | 他唱歌唱得怎么样? | Tā chànggē chàng de zěnmeyàng? | How well does he sing? |\
得 + Adjective + 不 + Adjective? | 你写字写得好不好? | Nǐ xiězì xiě de hǎo bù hǎo? | Do you write characters well? |\
得 + Adjective + 不 + Adjective? | 他唱歌唱得快不快? | Tā chànggē chàng de kuài bú kuài?| Does he sing fast? |\
When To Use It
得 is primarily used to evaluate the result, quality, or manner of a completed action or a habitual action. It answers the implicit question ofDegree Complement Formation
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Verb + 得 + Adj
|
跑得快
|
|
Negative
|
Verb + 得 + 不 + Adj
|
跑得不快
|
|
Question
|
Verb + 得 + Adj + 吗?
|
跑得快吗?
|
|
A-not-A
|
Verb + 得 + Adj + 不 + Adj?
|
跑得快不快?
|
|
Object (Aff)
|
V + O + V + 得 + Adj
|
写字写得好
|
|
Object (Neg)
|
V + O + V + 得 + 不 + Adj
|
写字写得不好
|
Meanings
The degree complement indicates the result, quality, or extent of an action. It answers the question 'How?' regarding a specific verb.
Quality of action
Describes how well or in what manner an action is performed.
“{她|tā}{跳|tiào}{舞|wǔ}{跳|tiào}{得|de}{很|hěn}{美|měi|}.”
“{我|wǒ}{写|xiě}{字|zì}{写|xiě}{得|de}{不|bù}{好|hǎo|}.”
Reference Table
| 结构类型 | 句型公式 | 中文例子 | 意思 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
基础型
|
动词 + 得 + 形容词
|
走得慢
|
Walks slowly
|
|
带副词
|
动词 + 得 + 很 + 形容词
|
跑得很快
|
Runs very fast
|
|
带宾语
|
动词 + 宾语 + 动词 + 得 + 形容词
|
说话说得多
|
Talks a lot
|
|
否定型
|
动词 + 得 + 不 + 形容词
|
做得不对
|
Did it incorrectly
|
|
提问型
|
动词 + 得 + 怎么样?
|
玩得怎么样？
|
How was the fun?
|
|
极端程度
|
动词 + 得 + 要命/不得了
|
饿得要命
|
Extremely hungry
|
正式程度
他奔跑得十分迅速。 (Describing speed)
他跑得很快。 (Describing speed)
他跑得飞快！ (Describing speed)
他跑得像闪电一样。 (Describing speed)
“得”字补语的使用领域
表现评价
- {跑|pǎo} {得|de} {快|kuài} Runs fast
- {唱|chàng} {得|de} {好|hǎo} Sings well
状态/程度
- {累|lèi} {得|de} {不|bù} {行|xíng} Exhausted
- {饿|è} {得|de} {发|fā} {抖|dǒu} Hungry to the point of shaking
反馈信息
- {写|xiě} {得|de} {对|duì} Written correctly
- {讲|jiǎng} {得|de} {清|qīng} {楚|chǔ} Explained clearly
中文里的三个“de”
如何用“得”造句
有宾语吗？
是否是否定句？
常与“得”连用的副词
标准程度
- • {很|hěn} (非常)
- • {非|fēi} {常|cháng} (极其)
- • {特|tè} {别|bié} (特别)
极端/俚语
- • {要|yào} {命|mìng} (得要命)
- • {不|bù} {得|de} {了|liǎo} (不得了)
- • {死|sǐ} {了|le} (累死了)
按水平分级的例句
{他|tā}{跑|pǎo}{得|de}{很|hěn}{快|kuài|}.
{我|wǒ}{说|shuō}{得|de}{不|bù}{好|hǎo|}.
{你|nǐ}{吃|chī}{得|de}{多|duō}{吗|ma|}?
{她|tā}{唱|chàng}{得|de}{很|hěn}{美|měi|}.
{他|tā}{汉|hàn}{语|yǔ}{说|shuō}{得|de}{很|hěn}{流|liú}{利|lì|}.
{我|wǒ}{打|dǎ}{球|qiú}{打|dǎ}{得|de}{不|bù}{怎|zěn}{么|me}{样|yàng|}.
{你|nǐ}{写|xiě}{字|zì}{写|xiě}{得|de}{真|zhēn}{漂|piào}{亮|liang|}!
{他|tā}{昨|zuó}{天|tiān}{睡|shuì}{得|de}{好|hǎo}{吗|ma|}?
{这|zhè}{个|gè}{菜|cài}{做|zuò}{得|de}{太|tài}{辣|là}{了|le|}.
{他|tā}{工|gōng}{作|zuò}{得|de}{非|fēi}{常|cháng}{努|nǔ}{力|lì|}.
{她|tā}{笑|xiào}{得|de}{眼|yǎn}{睛|jing}{都|dōu}{眯|mī}{起|qǐ}{来|lái}{了|le|}.
{他|tā}{气|qì}{得|de}{说|shuō}{不|bù}{出|chū}{话|huà}{来|lái|}.
{这|zhè}{部|bù}{电|diàn}{影|yǐng}{拍|pāi}{得|de}{深|shēn}{刻|kè}{极|jí}{了|le|}.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{房|fáng}{间|jiān}{收|shōu}{拾|shi}{得|de}{一|yī}{尘|chén}{不|bù}{染|rǎn|}.
{她|tā}{把|bǎ}{这|zhè}{个|gè}{项|xiàng}{目|mù}{管|guǎn}{理|lǐ}{得|de}{井|jǐng}{井|jǐng}{有|yǒu}{条|tiáo|}.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{自|zì}{己|jǐ}{打|dǎ}{扮|ban}{得|de}{很|hěn}{时|shí}{髦|máo|}.
{这|zhè}{篇|piān}{文|wén}{章|zhāng}{写|xiě}{得|de}{文|wén}{采|cǎi}{斐|fěi}{然|rán|}.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{这|zhè}{场|chǎng}{辩|biàn}{论|lùn}{赛|sài}{辩|biàn}{得|de}{天|tiān}{衣|yī}{无|wú}{缝|fèng|}.
{这|zhè}{座|zuò}{城|chéng}{市|shì}{规|guī}{划|huà}{得|de}{错|cuò}{落|luò}{有|yǒu}{致|zhì|}.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{这|zhè}{个|gè}{难|nán}{题|tí}{解|jiě}{析|xī}{得|de}{透|tòu}{彻|chè}{之|zhī}{极|jí|}.
{他|tā}{将|jiāng}{这|zhè}{段|duàn}{历|lì}{史|shǐ}{演|yǎn}{绎|yì}{得|de}{淋|lín}{漓|lí}{尽|jìn}{致|zhì|}.
{这|zhè}{幅|fú}{画|huà}{描|miáo}{绘|huì}{得|de}{栩|xǔ}{栩|xǔ}{如|rú}{生|shēng|}.
{他|tā}{把|bǎ}{这|zhè}{种|zhǒng}{情|qíng}{感|gǎn}{抒|shū}{发|fā}{得|de}{感|gǎn}{人|rén}{至|zhì}{深|shēn|}.
{这|zhè}{个|gè}{计|jì}{划|huà}{设|shè}{计|jì}{得|de}{天|tiān}{衣|yī}{无|wú}{缝|fèng|}.
容易混淆
They all sound the same but have different functions.
Both describe the result of an action.
Both use '得'.
常见错误
他跑快得
他跑得快
他写汉字得好
他写汉字写得好
他跑得很好快
他跑得很快
他跑得不快吗
他跑得快吗
他跳舞得好
他跳舞跳得好
他吃得不快吗
他吃得快吗
他跑得好快
他跑得很快
他做得好极了
他做得好极了
他跑得快了
他跑得快
他跑得很快了
他跑得很快
他跑得快极
他跑得快极了
他跑得快地
他跑得快
他跑得快快
他跑得很快
他跑得快不
他跑得快不快
句型
Subject + Verb + ___ + 得 + Adjective
Subject + Verb + 得 + ___ + Adjective
Subject + Verb + 得 + Adjective + ___?
Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + ___
Real World Usage
你照片拍得真好！
我今天睡得很好。
我工作得非常努力。
这儿玩得真开心。
这菜做得太咸了。
你写得对吗？
动词重复陷阱
高手省略法
谦虚的回答
Smart Tips
Always think: Verb + 得 + How!
Repeat the verb!
Put 'bu' before the adjective.
Add 'ma' at the end.
发音
The particle 'de'
It is pronounced as a neutral tone, very short and light.
Statement
他跑得很快 ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
他跑得快吗 ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
Think of '得' as a 'degree-bridge'. It bridges the action to the result.
视觉联想
Imagine a runner (verb) crossing a bridge (得) to reach a trophy (adjective).
Rhyme
Verb plus de, then the trait, tells us how you operate.
Story
Xiao Wang loves to sing. He sings (verb) on a bridge (得) and sounds beautiful (adjective). If he sings poorly, he falls off the bridge (不).
Word Web
挑战
Describe three things you do today using the Verb-得-Adj structure (e.g., I sleep well, I eat fast).
文化笔记
Used daily to give feedback on performance.
Similar usage, often with slightly softer tone markers.
They often use '到' (dou) instead of '得' (de) in their native dialect, which can influence their Mandarin.
The particle '得' evolved from a verb meaning 'to obtain' or 'to get'.
对话开场白
你汉语说得好吗？
你跑步跑得快吗？
你觉得这首歌唱得怎么样？
你认为他工作得努力吗？
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
他跑 ___ 很快。
Find and fix the mistake:
我说汉语得不错。
选择最佳句子：
Score: /3
练习题
8 exercises他跑___快。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
他跳舞得好。
快 / 跑 / 得 / 他
He speaks well.
Match: 跑 - 快
Subject: 我, Verb: 吃, Adj: 多
Negative of '他跑得快'?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
5 exercises1.{写|xiě} 2.{字|zì} 3.{得|de} 4.{我|wǒ} 5.{很|hěn} 6.{写|xiě} 7.{漂|piào} {亮|liang}
翻译这个句子。
匹配以下短语：
{你|nǐ} {考|kǎo} ___ {怎|zěn} {么|me} {样|yàng}？
{他|tā} {做|zuò} {菜|cài} {得|de} {真|zhēn} {好|hǎo} {吃|chī}。
Score: /5
常见问题 (8)
In Chinese, the degree complement must follow the verb directly. If an object is there, you repeat the verb to keep the structure intact.
Most action verbs work, but some stative verbs don't.
The sentence will sound incomplete or grammatically incorrect.
Yes, in this structure it is always neutral.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
'Hen' is for adjectives, 'de' is for action quality.
Yes, the structure remains the same.
It is standard in Mandarin; other dialects have their own versions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Adverbial phrases
Chinese needs the 'de' particle.
Adverbs
Chinese requires the 'de' particle.
Adverbs
Chinese requires the 'de' particle.
Adverbial form (ku/ni)
Japanese particles precede the verb.
Adverbial accusative
Chinese uses a particle structure.
Degree complement
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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