B1 · Grammar reference · ASGPXLP9
Expressing "must" with "dei"
The auxiliary verb 得 (děi) means "must." Yes, it's annoying that the same character can also be pronounced "de," but at least when you use 得 (děi), there's no ambiguity like with the word 要 (yào).
- Keywords
- 得 · must · need
- Used for
- Expressing obligations · Giving commands
- Classification
- Verbs · HSK4
Examples (10)
我们得走了。
时间不早了，我得回家了。
他是你弟弟，你得帮他。
不好意思，你得马上离开。
在学校就得听老师的话。
你得先付钱再进去。
是你的错，你得道歉。
他没有经验，你得教教他。
明天去面试，你得穿得正式一点。
你病得太厉害了，得去看医生。
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Summary, structure, classification, and adapted sentence examples draw from the AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; changes were made. This noncommercial reference is based on an October 2023 snapshot.
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