Verb + 得 + Complement (degree complement)

• Pinyin: de
• Formation: Verb + 得 + Complement
• Hanzi breakdown: 得 = 彳(step) + 日 (sun) + 寸 (inch)

Meaning

Use 得 (de) after a verb to describe how an action is performed or the extent of its result. The complement following 得 can be an adjective, a phrase, or a clause that evaluates the manner or degree of the verb.

The degree complement is one of the most common complement structures in Mandarin. It differs from the structural particle 的 used before nouns and the adverbial particle 地 used before verbs. When using 得 complements with a verb that has an object, the verb must be repeated — first with the object, then again with 得 and the complement (e.g., 他说中文说得很好). In negative form, 不 is placed before the complement adjective, not before the main verb (e.g., 他跑得不快). Beginners often confuse this 得 with 的 and 地, but remembering that 得 always follows a verb and introduces an evaluation helps distinguish them.

Examples

1. 她唱歌唱得非常好听。 She sings really beautifully.
2. 弟弟跑得比我快多了。 My younger brother runs much faster than me.
3. 老师讲课讲得很清楚。 The teacher explains the lessons very clearly.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这道菜做得真好吃。
• 她中文说得越来越流利了。
• 孩子们今天玩得很开心。

Don't Say

• 他说中文得很好。(When a verb has an object, the object cannot come between the verb and 得 directly — repeat the verb or front the object: 他说中文说得很好 or 他中文说得很好) → 他说中文说得很好。
• 他不跑得快。(不 must be placed inside the complement after 得, not before the main verb — say 他跑得不快) → 他跑得不快。
• 她很好得唱歌。(The degree complement comes AFTER the verb — the structure is Verb + 得 + Complement, not Complement + 得 + Verb — say 她唱歌唱得很好) → 她唱歌唱得很好。

Origin & History

The character 得 originally meant 'to obtain' or 'to get.' Its grammatical use as a degree complement marker developed during the Tang Dynasty, evolving from indicating the result of obtaining something to describing the manner or degree of an action.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal