ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A1/13.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de), placed after the "owner" noun or noun phrase. This particle works in a similar way to apostrophe-"s" in English, but is used much more broadly in Chinese. This article highlights one of its simplest and most common usages.

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">

Noun 1 + 的 + Noun 2

</div>

This means "'''Noun 1's Noun 2'''" (where Noun 2 belongs to Noun 1).

The structure is super simple.  It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is.  It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it").  The structure stays consistent.

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

* 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="pinyin">wǒ <em>de</em> lǎoshī</span><span class="trans">my teacher</span>
* 你 <em>的</em> 手机 <span class="pinyin">nǐ <em>de</em>  shǒujī </span><span class="trans">your cell phone</span>
* 我们 <em>的</em> 钱 <span class="pinyin">wǒmen <em>de</em> qián</span><span class="trans">our money</span>
* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="pinyin">tāmen <em>de</em> dōngxi</span><span class="trans">their stuff</span>
* 爸爸 <em>的</em> 车 <span class="pinyin"> bàba <em>de</em> chē </span><span class="trans">dad's car</span>
*  你们 <em>的</em> 菜 <span class="pinyin"> nǐmen <em>de</em> cài</span><span class="trans">your food</span>
* 北京 <em>的</em> 空气 <span class="pinyin"> Běijīng <em>de</em> kōngqì </span><span class="trans">Beijing's air</span>
* 公司 <em>的</em> 老板<span class="pinyin">gōngsī <em>de</em> lǎobǎn</span><span class="trans">the company's boss</span>
* 上海 <em>的</em> 天气 <span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>de</em>  tiānqì </span><span class="trans">Shanghai's weather</span>
* 老师 <em>的</em> 朋友<span class="pinyin"> lǎoshī <em>de</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">teacher's friend</span>

</div>

==See also==

*[[Expressing close possession]]
*[[Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"]]
*[[Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 45) [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 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 87) [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 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed)]] (pp. 101-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561926235/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7561926235 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 64-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Used for|Expressing possession}}
{{Basic Grammar|的|A1|Noun 1 + 的 + Noun 2|我 的 <em>老师</em>|grammar point|ASGUHQD2}}
{{Similar|Expressing close possession without "de"}} 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"}} 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"}}
{{POS|Particles}}
{{Translation|My}}
{{Translation|His}}
{{Translation|Her}}
{{Translation|Their}}
{{Translation|Our}}