to obtain

HSK 2 11 strokes
Stroke order animation for 得

Words with this Character

HSK 2
to obtain
觉得 jué de HSK 2
to think that ...; to feel that ...
得到 dédào HSK 3
得到
得分 défēn HSK 3
得分
懂得 dǒngde HSK 3
懂得
记得 jì de HSK 3
to remember
认得 rènde HSK 3
认得
得意 dé yì HSK 4
proud of oneself
获得 huò dé HSK 4
to obtain; to receive; to get
取得 qǔdé HSK 4
取得
赢得 yíngdé HSK 4
赢得
值得 zhí de HSK 4
to be worth
不得不 bù dé bù HSK 4
have no choice or option but to
来得及 lái de jí HSK 4
to have enough time; can do it in time; can still make it
舍得 shěde HSK 5
舍得
使得 shǐde HSK 5
使得
显得 xiǎn de HSK 5
to seem
不得了 bù dé liǎo HSK 5
desperately serious
不见得 bù jiàn de HSK 5
not necessarily
怪不得 guài bu de HSK 5
no wonder!
舍不得 shě bu de HSK 5
to hate to do sth
不得 bùdé HSK 6
不得
得了 déle HSK 6
得了
得力 dé lì HSK 6
able
得以 déyǐ HSK 6
得以
得知 dézhī HSK 6
得知
得罪 dé zuì HSK 6
to commit an offense
免得 miǎn de HSK 6
so as not to; so as to avoid
难得 nán dé HSK 6
seldom
心得 xīn dé HSK 6
what one has learned (through experience, reading etc)
只得 zhǐdé HSK 6
只得
巴不得 bā bu de HSK 6
(coll.) to be eager for
不得已 bù dé yǐ HSK 6
to act against one's will
不由得 bù yóu de HSK 6
can't help
恨不得 hèn bu de HSK 6
wishing one could do sth; to hate to be unable; itching to do sth
看得起 kàndeqǐ HSK 6
看得起
得不偿失 dé bù cháng shī HSK 6
the gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
得天独厚 dé tiān dú hòu HSK 6
blessed by heaven (idiom)
一举两得 yī jǔ liǎng dé HSK 6
one move, two gains (idiom); two birds with one stone
得当 dédàng HSK 7
得当
得失 déshī HSK 7
得失
得手 déshǒu HSK 7
得手
得体 détǐ HSK 7
得体
得益 déyì HSK 7
得益
非得 fēiděi HSK 7
非得
懒得 lǎnde HSK 7
懒得
对得起 duìdeqǐ HSK 7
对得起
划得来 huádelái HSK 7
划得来
不得而知 bùdé’érzhī HSK 7
不得而知
得心应手 déxīn-yìngshǒu HSK 7
得心应手
得意扬扬 déyì-yángyáng HSK 7
得意扬扬
哭笑不得 kūxiào-bùdé HSK 7
哭笑不得
难得一见 nándé yí jiàn HSK 7
难得一见
心安理得 xīn’ān-lǐdé HSK 7
心安理得
怡然自得 yírán-zìdé HSK 7
怡然自得

Multiple Uses of

The character (dé) is versatile in Mandarin. Primarily, it means "to obtain" or "to get," as in acquiring something tangible or intangible, like a job or a prize. For example, 工作 (He got the job).

Expressing Necessity or Obligation

When pronounced as děi, functions as a modal verb meaning "must" or "have to." It expresses necessity or obligation, often interchangeable with 应该 or 必须 but more colloquial and direct. For example, 抓紧时间 (You have to hurry).

Describing Degree or Result

In grammar, is used as a structural particle between a verb and a complement to describe the degree, manner, or result of an action. For example, (He runs very fast). This usage is essential for expressing how well or how much an action is performed.

Common Collocations and Patterns

  • + noun: to obtain something (e.g., 机会 - get an opportunity)
  • + verb (modal): must do something (e.g., - have to go)
  • Verb + + complement: describe degree/result (e.g., - do well)

Usage Tips

  • Don't confuse (dé) meaning "to get" with (děi) meaning "must." Context and tone clarify meaning.
  • When used as a structural particle, always follows the verb and precedes the complement.
  • It is more informal and common in spoken Chinese to use (děi) for obligation than 应该.

Understanding these uses will help you use naturally in conversation and writing.

Example Sentences

他终于得到了那份工作。

Tā zhōngyú dédào le nà fèn gōngzuò.

He finally got that job.

你得抓紧时间,否则会迟到。

Nǐ děi zhuājǐn shíjiān, fǒuzé huì chídào.

You have to hurry up, or you'll be late.

通过努力,他得了第一名。

Tōngguò nǔlì, tā dé le dì yī míng.

Through hard work, he won first place.

这件事我做得很好。

Zhè jiàn shì wǒ zuò de hěn hǎo.

I did this thing very well.

他跑得很快。

Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.

He runs very fast.

我得去买点东西。

Wǒ děi qù mǎi diǎn dōngxi.

I have to go buy some things.

这本书你得看看。

Zhè běn shū nǐ děi kàn kàn.

You really should take a look at this book.