Expressing close possession without "de" 的
Expressing possession in Chinese is accomplished with the particle 的 (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).
Contents
Structure
Pronoun + Noun
Normally possession is expressed with the particle 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:
- A close personal relationship (family, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends) is involved
- An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work) is involved
In these cases 的 (de) should be omitted. It doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in.
Examples
- 我 家 很 大。
Wǒ jiā hěn dà.
My house is very big.
- 你 哥哥 很 高 。
Nǐ gēge hěn gāo.
Your big brother is very tall.
- 这 是 我 女朋友 。
Zhè shì wǒ nǚpéngyou .
This is my girlfriend.
- 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。
Tā māma hěn piàoliang.
Her mom is very pretty.
- 我们 学校 很 大 。
Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.
Our school is big.
- 他们 公司 在 北京。
Tāmen gōngsī zài Běijīng.
Their company is in Bejing.
- 你 男朋友 很 帅。
Nǐ nán péngyou hěn shuài.
Your boyfriend is very handsome.
- 他 儿子 很 有名。
Tā érzi hěn yǒumíng.
His son is really famous.
- 我 女儿 会 说 英语。
Wǒ nǚ'ér huì shuō Yīngyǔ.
My daughter can speak English.
- 他 爸爸 是 我们 公司 的 老板。
Tā bàba shì wǒmen gōngsī de lǎobǎn.
His dad is the boss of our company.
If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 76)
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 31)
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 87)