得 dé, de, děi

To go forward, seize a valuable shell, and acquire it. To get, gain, achieve; marks result or ability after a verb; “must” when read děi. Step by step (彳), grab a shell (贝/旦) with your hand (寸) to make it yours.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 觉得 (juéde) — to feel / to think (an opinion)
  • 跑得快 (pǎo de kuài) — runs fast (how fast the running is)
  • 说得好 (shuō de hǎo) — speaks well / said it well
  • 写得漂亮 (xiě de piàoliang) — writes beautifully
  • 我得走 (wǒ děi zǒu) — I have to go
  • 我跑快得 我跑得快

    The 'how' word goes after 得, not before it. English says 'I run fast', Chinese says 'I run 得 fast'.

  • 我得去吗? (meaning 'Do I get to go?') 我能去吗? / 我可以去吗?

    得 (děi) means 'must', so that question asks about obligation. For permission, use 能 or 可以.

  • 我得书 我的书

    For 'my book' you need 的, not 得. 得 never marks possession.

Why do people write 跑得快, but 慢慢地跑, and 我的书?

Three particles, one sound. 得 carries 'how', 的 owns nouns, 地 sits before verbs.

Same sound, three totally different jobs. 得 sits right after a verb and links it to how the action goes: 跑得快 (runs fast), 说得好 (speaks well). 地 sits after a describing word and before a verb: 慢慢地跑 (slowly run). 的 sits after a describing word and before a noun: 我的书 (my book). Natives mix these up in texts too, so don't panic. Pick the wrong one and people still get you, but it reads as careless.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Verb + how跑得快 (runs fast)跑快得
How + verb慢慢地跑 (slowly run)慢得跑
Description + noun我的书 (my book)我得书

My textbook says 得 is 'dé' in 得到, but my friend said 我得走了 and it sounded like 'děi'. Same character, different sound?

得 has three readings: dé means get, de links verb to how, děi means must.

When 得 comes before a verb and means 'must', say děi: 我得走了 (I have to go), 你得早点儿睡 (you should sleep earlier). When it means 'get or win', say dé: 得到 (to get). When it links a verb to how the action goes, it's a light, toneless de: 跑得快, 说得好. Natives never stop to pick the tone in their head. The shape of the sentence makes it obvious, and it will for you too after a few dozen examples.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Must / have to我得走了 (I have to go)我 dé 走了
Get / win得到 (to get)děi 到
Links verb to how跑得快 (runs fast)跑 dé 快

Can I just say 我跑快 instead of 我跑得快?

No. 我跑快 sounds broken; 得 is the hinge that bolts 'how' onto a verb.

You can't staple a plain verb to a plain describing word: 跑快, 说好, 写漂亮 all sound broken on their own. You need 得 in the middle to make it work: 跑得快, 说得好, 写得漂亮. The one time you skip 得 is when the verb already carries its own result, like 跑完 (finish running) or 看见 (see). So if the point is how something is done, 得 is not optional at all.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Verb + how跑得快 (runs fast)跑快
Verb + how说得好 (speaks well)说好
Verb + own result看见 (see), 跑完 (finish running)看见得, 跑完得

To ask 'Do I get to go?

得 (děi) means 'have to'. So 我得去吗 asks 'must I go?' For 'can I', use 能 or 可以.

得 (děi) always means must or have to; it's an obligation you can't dodge. So 我得去吗 really asks 'Am I forced to go?' To ask permission, use 能 or 可以: 我能去吗? / 我可以去吗? (Can I go?). Keep the tone in mind too: 得 is casual and spoken, so 我得走了 fits a chat with a friend, while rules on signs reach for stiffer wording. Match the volume to the room.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Permission我能去吗? (Can I go?)我得去吗? (Do I have to go?)
Obligation我得走了 (I gotta go)我能走了 (reads as permission)
Register我得走了 (casual, spoken)formal signs and rules

Appears in Stories 15 stories

《饥饿的深意》 The Hidden Meaning of Hunger
HSK 7 ~11 min read 1243 chars
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Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.

  • 骨碟干净 得 像没用过。

  • 车是百万级的,内饰干净 得 不像有人坐过。

  • 路上他接了个电话,语气一下子变了, 变得 有点儿凶。

  • 我说 过得去 。

  • 他说 过得 就行,比我强。

  • 我 得 一直醒着。

  • 他每道菜都尝了,吃 得 满嘴油光。

  • 从那以后他才学会了,饭桌上吃 得 越少,别人越拿不准你,越拿不准就越不敢动你。

《你误会方便面了吗?》 Are Instant Noodles Misunderstood?
HSK 6 ~10 min read 1171 chars
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Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.

  • 误会二:方便面没有什么营养事实上,除了刚出生的小宝宝可以只吃一种食物 获得 全部营养以外,没有任何人可以从单一一种食物中 获得 全部的营养。

  • 看一下“人体所需营养”目录,就明白一个人最好每天吃10到30种以上的食物,这样才能 得到 各种各样的营养。

  • 有人干吃方便面,也不会 觉得 咸。

  • 而当人们用开水泡面的时候,如果不另外加盐,还会 觉得 淡。

《大学者和小人物》 The Scholar and the Cookie Seller
HSK 5 ~8 min read 882 chars
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Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.

  • 他比较支持美国,但理论上说不明白,一直 得不到 满意的解释。

  • 他们一老一少, 谈得 很高兴。

  • 有一次他 得了 心脏病,住进医院。

  • 他能 认得 出哪种饼干是“我的朋友”做的。

《成语0001:东山再起》 The Comeback: From Eastern Mountain to Success
HSK 7 ~5 min read 589 chars
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Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.

  • 现在,我们用“东山再起”来形容一个人失败或退出后,通过努力又重新 获得 成功。

  • 你 觉得 老王能咸鱼翻身吗?

《七号桌的客人》 The Guest at Table Seven
HSK 1 ~5 min read 396 chars
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This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.

  • 我天天坐在这儿看外边, 觉得 我儿子还会回来。”

  • 大中听了,看那杯不热的茶, 觉得 老先生很好。

《找“大白”》 Looking for Big White
HSK 1 ~5 min read 361 chars
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A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.

  • 听见有人和我说话,我 觉得 非常高兴。”

  • 白天明 觉得 ,今天天气真好。

《三号病房的苹果》 The Apple in Ward Three
HSK 1 ~3 min read 191 chars
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Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.

  • 马家友 觉得 是医院给的。

  • 马家友吃了手里的苹果, 觉得 这个苹果真好吃!

《这样子好吗?》 The Clever Child Who Asked for More
HSK 2 ~3 min read 189 chars
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In this funny HSK 2 story, a boy asks his father for money every day. When his father tries to teach him a lesson, the boy's clever reply will make you laugh.

  • 小钱想了想,说:”爸爸你 说得对 !

《五块钱》 The Five-Yuan Gift
HSK 1 ~6 min read 414 chars
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This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.

  • 高先明听了, 觉得 非常高兴。

《森林大火》 Forest Fires and a Homesick Heart
HSK 4 ~4 min read 454 chars
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Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.

  • 因为风把烟吹到城里,空气 变得 非常差,很多人开始咳嗽,小李也是其中一个。

《女朋友的苹果手机》 The Girlfriend's Apple Phone
HSK 3 ~3 min read 314 chars
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This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.

  • 这比在网球场上 得分 要重要多了。

《是谁要去玩?》 A Hot Day at School
HSK 1 ~4 min read 261 chars
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Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.

  • 我现在 觉得 喝水最好玩儿“。

《热面条》 Hot Noodles on a Cold Night
HSK 1 ~5 min read 399 chars
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Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.

  • 大中吃了热热的面条, 觉得 今天晚上一点儿也不冷了。

《去上海》 Train or Plane to Shanghai
HSK 2 ~2 min read 151 chars
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Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.

  • 坐火车比坐飞机便宜 得 多,去飞机场也要花很多时间,所以,小商 觉得 坐火车比坐飞机好。

《哪里哪里!》 Where is 'Where'?
HSK 1 ~6 min read 432 chars
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Chat about where friends study Chinese while exploring 哪儿 and 哪里 across Beijing and Shanghai. Practice asking “where”, talking about “here” and “there”, and using the modest reply 哪里哪里 to accept a compliment.

  • 我 觉得 老上海人喜欢说“这里”、“那里”和“哪里”,不喜欢说“……

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