LEARN + CHINESE / 13 of 300 HSK 1
What Comes Before a Noun 的
You spot a new book on the desk and tell a friend whose it is: 这是我的新书. The description and owner come before 书, with 的 linking a modifier to the noun. Chinese also tends to place time and location before the action, so a sentence often sets the scene before saying what happens.
Examples
这是一本新书。
Zhè shì yì běn xīn shū.
This is a new book.
我今天在家学习。
Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā xuéxí.
I’m studying at home today.
他很认真地听。
Tā hěn rènzhēn de tīng.
He listens attentively.
Hint · 힌트
Do not place an English-style adjective after the noun. Chinese says 新书, literally “new book,” and 我的书, “my book.”
Vocabulary
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
zàijiā | be at home |
jīntiān | today |
xuéxí | to study |
rènzhēn | serious; earnest |
wǒ | I; me |
tā | he; him |
shì | to be (am, is, are) |
hěn | very |
zhè | this |
zài | at; in; (progressive) |
yī | one |
xīn | new |
xué | to learn |
tīng | to listen |
de | (adverbial particle -ly) |
jiā | family; home |
tiān | sky; day |
zhēn | real; really |
shū | book |
běn | volume (book measure word) |
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