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[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Wanting to do something with "yao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Wanting_to_do_something_with_%22yao%22) (A1) - [Expressing "should" with "yinggai"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22should%22_with_%22yinggai%22) (A2) - [Expressing "would like to" with "xiang"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22would_like_to%22_with_%22xiang%22) (A2) - [Expressing "had better" with "zuihao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22had_better%22_with_%22zuihao%22) (B1) - [Declaring the only option with "zhihao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Declaring_the_only_option_with_%22zhihao%22) (B2) - [Expressing "have to" with budebu](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22have_to%22_with_budebu) (B2) - \[....buke%22 Adding emphasis with "fei....buke"\] (C1) - [Expressing “must" with "feidei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%E2%80%9Cmust%22_with_%22feidei%22) (C1)

Used for

[Expressing obligations](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_obligations), [Giving commands](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Giving_commands)

Keywords

[得](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%BE%97)

Translations

[must](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Must), [need](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Need)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-2.jpg](Expressing%20%22must%22%20with%20%22dei%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-2.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-2.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-de-2.jpg)

Learning how to use 得 (děi) to mean "must" must be done by those wishing to master Chinese!

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Videos](#Videos "wikilink") - [4.2 Books](#Books "wikilink")

Structure --------------------------------------------------------- Normally, when you see 得, it's a particle and is pronounced "de." However, it can also be an [auxiliary verb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb). In this case it's pronounced *děi* and means "must."

Subj. + 得 + \[Verb Phrase\]

Examples -------------------------------------------------------

- 我们 *得* 走了。Wǒmen *děi* zǒu le.We have to leave. - 时间不早了，我 *得* 回家了。Shíjiān bù zǎo le, wǒ *děi* huíjiā le.It's getting late. I have to go home. - 他是你弟弟，你 *得* 帮他。Tā shì nǐ dìdi, nǐ *děi* bāng tā.He is your younger brother. You must help him. - 不好意思，你 *得* 马上离开。Bù hǎoyìsi, nǐ *děi* mǎshàng líkāi.Sorry, you have to get out of here right now. - 在学校就 *得* 听老师的话。Zài xuéxiào jiù *děi* tīng lǎoshī de huà.You have to listen to the teacher at school. - 你 *得* 先付钱再进。Nǐ *děi* xiān fù qián zài jìn.You need to pay before you come inside. - 是你的错，你 *得* 道歉。Shì nǐ de cuò, nǐ *děi* dàoqiàn.It's your fault. You must apologize. - 他没有经验，你 *得* 教教他。Tā méiyǒu jīngyàn, nǐ *děi* jiāojiao tā.He doesn't have experience. You must teach him. - 明天去面试，你 *得* 穿得正式一点。Míngtiān qù miànshì, nǐ *děi* chuān de zhèngshì yīdiǎn.You must wear something more formal for tomorrow's job interview. - 你病得太厉害了，*得*去看医生。Nǐ bìng de tài lìhai le, *děi* qù kàn yīshēng.You are really sick, you must go see a doctor.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - ["Would like to" with xiang](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Would_like_to%22_with_xiang) - [Wanting to do something with yao](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Wanting_to_do_something_with_yao) - [Auxiliary verb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb) - [Auxiliary verb "hui" for "will"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Auxiliary_verb_%22hui%22_for_%22will%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Videos - Yoyo Chinese: ["Have to and Don't have to"](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L11Ulml2rJE&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=17) ### Books - [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)) (pp. 164-5) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xe9H5W) - [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(%E5%9F%BA%E7%A1%80%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD40%E8%AF%BE%E4%B8%8B%E5%86%8C%EF%BC%89) (pp. 301) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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