Chinese word

得

Pronunciation

Pinyinděi

Meaning

  • auxiliary verbhave to

Example

我得去上班。wǒ děi qù shàng bān

I have to go to work.

Illustration for 得 (have to)

More examples

他下午得休息一下。tā xià wǔ děi xiū xī yí xià

He has to rest a little in the afternoon.

Core concept

A situation closes off the other choices and leaves one action necessary.

Common phrases

  • 得去上班děi qù shàng bān

    have to go to work

  • 得休息děi xiū xī

    have to rest

Similar words

要yào: Showing that someone needs to carry out an action.
必须bì xū: Showing that an action must be carried out without exception.
应该yīng gāi: Showing that someone ought to carry out an action.

Definition in Chinese

放在动词前，表示说话人或情形认为某行为有必要发生，相当于“必须”“不得不”。fàng zài dòng cí qián biǎo shì shuō huà rén huò qíng xíng rèn wéi mǒu xíng wéi yǒu bì yào fā shēng xiāng dāng yú bì xū bù dé bù

Word origin

The auxiliary 得 (děi, "have to") developed from the older verb meaning "obtain," connecting the action needed to reach a result with the idea of having no choice but to act.

Usage tips

  • In listening, the brief sound děi can be easy to miss, but hearing it changes the following action from a possible plan into a required one.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word