得

dé, dè, de, děi

㝵 + 彳

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

de (particle) structural particle used after verb; adjective to indicate effect, degree or possibility

děi (verb) must; have to; need to

dé (verb) to obtain; to get; to gain

Etymology

Depicts a hand (寸) grabbing a shell (貝), used as currency in ancient China, to convey the meaning "get". Originally written as 㝵. The 彳 (movement) component was added later.

About

得 originally depicted a hand (寸) grabbing a shell (貝), used as currency in ancient China, to convey the meaning "get". This early form was written 㝵; later the movement component 彳 was added, creating the modern character. The core meaning is to obtain something, whether a physical object or an abstract benefit. Over time, 得 also developed grammatical uses: as a structural particle introducing degree or state complements, and as an auxiliary verb expressing obligation or necessity.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我得到了礼物。

Wǒ dédàole lǐwù.

I received a gift.

你跑得很快。

Nǐ pǎo dé hěn kuài.

You run very fast.

他高兴得跳了起来。

Tā gāoxìng dé tiào le qǐlái.

He was so happy that he jumped up.

这菜做得很好吃。

Zhè cài zuò dé hěn hǎochī.

This dish is cooked very well.

我得去上班了。

Wǒ děi qù shàngbān le.

I have to go to work now.

这个消息让他激动得说不出话。

Zhège xiāoxi ràng tā jīdòng dé shuō bù chū huà.

This news made him so excited he couldn't speak.

这些钱够不够用得看你怎么花。

Zhèxiē qián gòu bù gòu yòng dé kàn nǐ zěnme huā.

Whether this money is enough to use depends on how you spend it.

他把自己描述得好像什么都懂似的。

Tā bǎ zìjǐ miáoshù dé hǎoxiàng shénme dōu dǒng shìde.

He described himself as if he knew everything.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 㝵

Component: 彳

Example Words