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Beginner

Possession with 的

Showing 'whose'

的 shows possession

Possessor + 的 + thing.

💬 Examples
我的书
wǒ de shū
my book
📝 我 + 的 + noun
老师的车
lǎoshī de chē
the teacher's car
📝 X 的 Y = X's Y
的 is dropped for close relations

Often omitted for family and close ties.

💬 Examples
我妈妈
wǒ māma
my mom
📝 的 dropped for family
我们学校
wǒmen xuéxiào
our school
📝 的 dropped for close ties
的 builds descriptive phrases

的 also links an adjective or verb phrase to a noun.

💬 Examples
红色的车
hóngsè de chē
a red car
📝 adjective + 的 + noun
我买的书
wǒ mǎi de shū
the book I bought
📝 verb phrase + 的 + noun