[Expressing possession](Expressing_possession_with_"de" "wikilink") in
Chinese is accomplished with the particle [的](的 "wikilink") (de). But
sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved,
it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).

Structure
---------

<div class="jiegou">
Pronoun + Noun

</div>
Normally [possession](Expressing_possession_with_"de" "wikilink") is
expressed using the [particle](particle "wikilink") 的 (de). However,
you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:

-   A close personal relationship is involved (family, close friends,
    boyfriends or girlfriends)
-   An institutional or organizational relationship is involved
    (school, work)

In these cases 的 (de) **should be** omitted. It doesn't sound as
natural if you leave it in.

Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   <em>我 家</em> 很 大。<span class="pinyin"><em>Wǒ jiā</em> hěn
    dà.</span><span class="trans">My house is very big.</span>
-   <em>你 哥哥</em> 很 高 。<span class="pinyin"><Em> Nǐ gēge</em> hěn
    gāo.</span><span class="trans">Your big brother is very tall.</span>
-   这 是 <em>我 女朋友</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>wǒ
    nǚpéngyou</em>.</span><span class="trans">This is my
    girlfriend.</span>
-   <em>她 妈妈</em> 很 漂亮。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā māma</em> hěn
    piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">Her mom is very pretty.</span>
-   <em>我们 学校</em> 很 大 。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒmen
    xuéxiào</em> hěn dà.</span><span class="trans">Our school is
    big.</span>
-   <em>他们 公司</em> 在 北京。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tāmen
    gōngsī</em> zài Běijīng.</span><span class="trans">Their company is
    in Bejing.</span>
-   <em>你 男朋友</em> 很 帅。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Nǐ
    nánpéngyou</em> hěn shuài.</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend
    is very handsome.</span>
-   <em>他 儿子</em> 很 有名。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā érzi</em> hěn
    yǒumíng.</span><span class="trans">His son is really famous.</span>
-   <em>我 女儿</em> 会 说 英语。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Wǒ nǚ'ér</em>
    huì shuō Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">My daughter can speak
    English.</span>
-   <em>他 爸爸</em> 是 <em>我们 公司</em> 的
    老板。<span class="pinyin"><Em>Tā bàba</em> shì <em>wǒmen
    gōngsī</em> de lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">His dad is the boss
    of our company.</span>

</div>
If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural
sense of distance between the two.

See also
--------

-   [Expressing possession with
    "de"](Expressing_possession_with_"de" "wikilink")
-   [Modifying nouns with adjective +
    "de"](Modifying_nouns_with_adjective_+_"de" "wikilink")
-   [Modifying nouns with phrase +
    "de"](Modifying_nouns_with_phrase_+_"de" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    76)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    31)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (p.
    87)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")