Learn Chinese for Free - Lesson 13
Today's Chinese character:
的
Today, at last, I have the pleasure to introduce the number one most frequently used Chinese character! In order to be able to write in Chinese the sentence "She's my teacher", you don't need any other character.
| Character Knowledge Meter |
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13.5%
Today with this lesson your knowledge of Chinese characters will reach 13.5% of all the Chinese language usage! |
Characters' Essentials
| - | Used between an attributive adjunct (i.e. an adjective, or a word, phrase, or clause, performing the function of an adjective) and the headword |
Description and Examples
The Attributive And The Headword
An attributive usually modifies a noun and the modified is called headword or central word. Sometimes, the structural particle 的 is needed between the attributive and the headword; at other times, however, it is not required.
sometimes: ATTRIBUTIVE + HEADWORD
at other times: ATTRIBUTIVE + 的 + HEADWORD
Gradually you'll learn when 的 is to be used and when it is not.
Sentence Structure 5 |
IMPORTANT: remember that the headword is always placed AFTER 的.
Sentence Structure 6 |
Exercise
Have I forgotten to write the Chinese sentence "She is my teacher"? No, I just am quite sure you can write it by yourself!
Tip: apply what you have studied about the declarative "是" sentence and about the attributive genitive.
That's all for today. I wish you like my website and go on clicking and clicking on its other sections!
Characters' Details
Chinese Character 30 of 1000
appearance score: # 1
frequency: 4.0943253%
| - | (Used after an attributive adjunct, i.e. an adjective, or a word, phrase, or clause, performing the function of an adjective: 1. when the attributive adjunct is used to qualify or modify the headword; 2. when between the attributive adjunct and the headword there is a relationship of belonging; 3. when the attributive adjunct is a person and the headword is a noun for a job or a function, to indicate that the person holds that role; 4. when the attributive adjunct is a person and the headword is preceded by a verb, to indicate that the person is the receiver of the action) |
| - | (Used without headword: 1. takes the place of who or what has been mentioned in the preceding part of the text; 2. stands for a generic person or thing; 3. indicates a certain situation; 4. when there's a series of 的 preceded and followed each by the same verb, adjective, etc., it has the meaning of 'this and that', 'either ... and ...') |
| - | (Used after the verbal predicate, gives emphasis to the action's doer, place, time, etc. ATTENTION: this construction is only used for past actions) |
| - | (Used at the end of a statement, indicates certainty) |
| - | (Used after two or more words of the same kind, its meaning is similar to 'so on' or 'etc.') |
| - | (Used between two numeral-classifier compounds, it means multiply or add) |
| - | True, exact, real |
| - | Target, bull's-eye |
There's no difference between the simplified and the traditional version of this character.
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