How to Write 得 (de/dé/děi) — Meaning “To get / obtain / must”

Imagine a person (彳) walking on a path and picking up a shiny coin (the right side looks like a hand reaching for a small circle). This helps you recall that 得 means 'to get' or 'obtain'.

Learners often make the right side too wide or mix up the strokes. The right part 㝵 has a small '日' on top and a '寸' below, but be careful: the horizontal strokes are short, and the bottom '寸' has a dot. Practice the 11 strokes slowly, keeping the character balanced.

待 (dài) uses the radical 彳 with 寺 (temple) and means 'to wait', while 徇 (xùn) uses 彳 with 旬 (ten-day period) and means 'to obey or show off'. In contrast, 得 (dé/de) has the right side 㝵 and focuses on 'obtaining' or, as a particle, indicating degree (e.g., 跑得快 'run fast'). Visually, 得 has a dot at the bottom right, unlike 待 which ends with a horizontal line.

Use 得 (dé) as a verb meaning 'to get' (e.g., 得到 'obtain') or 'must' (e.g., 得去 'must go'). As a particle (de), it connects a verb to a degree complement, like 说得对 'speak correctly'. Culturally, 得意 (dé yì) means 'proud of oneself' – but be careful, it can sound boastful if used too often.

Common words containing 得 include: 得到 (dé dào) — to get; to obtain; to receive; 得意 (dé yì) — proud of oneself; 跑得快 (pǎo dé kuài) — to run fast.