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Chinese words starting with “de”

18 words in our HSK vocabulary start with the syllable de. They are sorted by how common they are, so the ones you are most likely to meet come first. The 4 most useful of them have their own page — they are listed first below.

Initial d · final e · hear the four tones and see example characters →

  • 2nd tone 16
  • neutral tone 2

Word counts by tone are counted on the first syllable of each word.

Common words with this syllable

All 18 words

#WordPinyinPOSMeaningStudy list
1的deu,nof; ~'s (possessive particle); (used after an attribute); (used to form a nominal expression); (used at the end of a declarative sentence for emphasis); also pr. [dì] or [di] in poetry and songs
2得déu,vto obtain; to get; to gain; to catch (a disease); proper; suitable; proud; contented; to allow; to permit; ready; finished
3地deu,n-ly; structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
4德dén,bvirtue; goodness; morality; ethics; kindness; favor; character; kind
5得知dé zhīvto find out; to learn of
6得了dé lev,yall right!; that's enough!
7得以dé yǐvable to; so that sb can; enabling; in order to; finally in a position to; with sth in view
8得意dé yìa,anproud of oneself; pleased with oneself; complacent
9得罪dé zuìvto commit an offense; to violate the law; excuse me! (formal); see also 罪
10得益于dé yì yúto benefit from; thanks to
11得手dé shǒuvto go smoothly; to come off; to succeed
12得力dé lìaable; capable; competent; efficient
13得体dé tǐaappropriate to the occasion; fitting
14得当dé dàngaappropriate; suitable
15得失dé shīngains and losses; success and failure; merits and demerits
16得不偿失dé bù cháng shīvthe gains do not make up for the losses (idiom)
17得天独厚dé tiān dú hòulblessed by heaven (idiom); enjoying exceptional advantages; favored by nature
18得意扬扬dé yì yáng yángvariant of 洋

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