的 de

“of; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute); (used to form a nominal expression)”

particle, nounHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

的 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 30: 的 de — Level 1; official annotation 1 (助). PDF page 80

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 的

的 is the possessive particle that links a possessor to a noun, like English 's or 'of'. The pattern is [owner] + 的 + [noun], as in 我的书 (my book). It is also used after an adjective before a noun, as in 漂亮的花.

例句Example sentences

这是我的书。zhè shì wǒ de shū.This is my book.
他是我的好朋友。tā shì wǒ de hǎo péng you.He is my good friend.
妈妈的车很大。mā ma de chē hěn dà.Mom's car is big.

易混词Easily confused

的vs得

的 marks possession (我的书); 得 follows a verb to introduce a complement (跑得快). They sound the same but are written differently.

深度指南Grammar & comparison guides

义项All meanings

de: of; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute); (used to form a nominal expression); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); also pr. [dì] or [di] in poetry and songs
dī: a taxi; a cab (abbr. for 士)
dí: really and truly
dì: (bound form) bull's-eye; target