得 (děi) vs 得 (de): modal 'must' vs complement marker
The character 得 has two distinct uses: as a modal verb pronounced děi, meaning 'must' or 'have to', and as a grammatical particle pronounced de, used after verbs to link a complement of degree or result. They are not interchangeable; context determines the pronunciation and function.
In Chinese, the single character 得 can represent two completely different grammatical items: a modal verb (děi) meaning 'must' or 'have to', and a particle (de) that attaches to a verb to introduce a complement describing how an action is performed or its result. Pronunciation is the key clue: děi always has the third tone and is a verb, while de is unstressed and acts as a structural particle. Negation patterns also differ: děi is negated with 不用 (bùyòng), while the de complement is negated by inserting 不 after 得 (e.g., 跑得不快). Confusing the two leads to grammatical errors and miscommunication.
When to use each
Use 得 (děi) to express necessity or obligation, often due to external circumstances (e.g., rules, schedules, or practical requirements). It behaves like a modal verb and is always followed by a verb or verbal phrase. It cannot be negated with 不; instead, the opposite meaning is conveyed by 不用 (bùyòng) or 不必 (bùbì).
得 (děi) is a defective verb: it does not take aspect markers like 了, 着, or 过, and it cannot be reduplicated. In some northern dialects, 得 (děi) may have a different tone sandhi, but standard Mandarin treats it as third tone.
Use 得 (de) after a verb to introduce a complement that describes the degree, result, or manner of the action. The complement is typically an adjective or a phrase. The structure is 'Verb + 得 + Adjective/Phrase'. To negate, insert 不 after 得 (e.g., 跑得不快). It is a neutral-tone particle and cannot stand alone.
Do not confuse this with the potential complement structure (e.g., 跑得快 'can run fast' vs 跑不快 'cannot run fast'), where 得 is infixed and has different negation rules. The complement marker 得 (de) always appears between the verb and the complement, and the verb itself can be monosyllabic or polysyllabic.
At a glance
| 得 | 得 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | děi (third tone) | de (neutral tone) |
| Part of speech | Modal verb | Structural particle |
| Meaning | Must, have to | Links verb to complement of degree/result |
| Negation | 不用 + verb (e.g., 你不用去) | Verb + 得不 + Adj (e.g., 跑得不快) |
| Followed by | Verb or verb phrase | Adjective or descriptive phrase |
| Typical structure | Subject + 得 + Verb | Subject + Verb + 得 + Complement |
Examples
- 得我得走了。Wǒ děi zǒu le.I have to go now.děi expresses necessity (external reason – meeting time).
- 得他跑得很快。Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.He runs very fast.de links the verb 跑 to the complement 很快.
- 得你不用担心，我得自己做。Nǐ bùyòng dānxīn, wǒ děi zìjǐ zuò.You don't need to worry; I have to do it myself.得 (děi) is negated with 不用, not 不.
- 得她说得不对。Tā shuō de bù duì.She didn't say it correctly.Negation: 不 is placed after 得, not before it.
- 得你得先完成作业再玩。Nǐ děi xiān wánchéng zuòyè zài wán.You must finish your homework before playing.děi indicates a rule or necessity.
- 得他跑得不快，但很稳。Tā pǎo de bù kuài, dàn hěn wěn.He doesn't run fast, but he is very steady.Correct negation of 得 (de) complement: 跑得不快, not 跑不快.
Common mistakes
- Using 得 (děi) with 不 to negate (e.g., 不得去) – correct negation is 不用去.
- Pronouncing the complement marker 得 (de) as děi, which changes the meaning (e.g., 他跑得很快 sounds like 'he must run fast').
- Negating the complement structure 得 (de) as 'Verb + 不 + Adj' (e.g., 跑不快) when you intend to negate the degree complement – use 'Verb + 得不 + Adj' (e.g., 跑得不快).
- Omitting 得 (de) when it is required after a verb before a degree/result complement (e.g., *他很跑快 for 他跑得很快).
- Using 得 (de) after adjectives (e.g., *高兴得) – 得 only follows verbs (or stative verbs/psych verbs).
FAQ
- How do I know if 得 is pronounced děi or de?
- If the word means 'must' or 'have to' and is followed by a verb, it is pronounced děi (third tone). If it appears between a verb and a complement describing the action (e.g., 跑得很快), it is the particle de (neutral tone). Context and grammar always indicate the correct pronunciation.
- When do I use 得 (děi) vs 得 (de)?
- Use 得 (děi) to express obligation or necessity (like 'must' in English). Use 得 (de) as a structural particle to link a verb to a complement of degree or result. They are completely different in function and pronunciation, so you cannot substitute one for the other.
- How do I negate a sentence with 得 (děi) and with 得 (de)?
- To negate 得 (děi), use 不用 (bùyòng) before the verb (e.g., 你不用去 'You don't have to go'). To negate a complement with 得 (de), put 不 after 得 (e.g., 他跑得不快 'He doesn't run fast'). Do not use 不 before 得 in either case.
- Can I use 得 (de) in potential complements like 跑得快?
- The potential complement construction (Verb + 得 + Result, e.g., 跑得快 'can run fast') uses a different grammatical 得 (same character, but often considered a separate usage). Its negation is Verb + 不 + Result (e.g., 跑不快). This is not the same as the degree complement marker discussed here. Do not mix the negation patterns – for degree complements, always use 得不.