的 (de) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 的 (de) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 的 (de) means "possessive particle / of". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 8 strokes and the radical 白.

Q: How do you write 的 stroke by stroke?

的 has 8 strokes. The radical is 白. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 的 and 百?

的 (de) and 百 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 的?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 白. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 的?

Common words containing 的 include: 我的 (wǒ de) — My / Mine; 好的 (hǎo de) — okay; alright; 目的 (mù dì) — Purpose / Goal.

How to Write 的

The character 的 (de) is written with 8 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 白 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

的 is pronounced de in Mandarin Chinese. It means possessive particle / of.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: de, dī, dí, dì.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 的 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 的

我的 wǒ de

My / Mine

好的 hǎo de

okay; alright

目的 mù dì

Purpose / Goal

标的 biāo dì

Target; object (of a contract or deal).

的确 dí què

Indeed

的士 dī shì

Taxi

Example Sentences

这是我的书，请不要乱动。

zhè shì wǒ de shū qǐng bú yào luàn dòng

This is my book; please don't touch it.

这是一个好的开始。

zhè shì yí gè hǎo de kāi shǐ

This is a good start.

我们这次旅行的目的是放松身心。

wǒ men zhè cì lǚ xíng de mù dì shì fàng sōng shēn xīn

The purpose of our trip is to relax our bodies and minds.

双方商定了合同的标的额。

shuāng fāng shāng dìng le hé tóng de biāo dì é

Both parties agreed on the contract amount.

Similar Characters

百 bǎi

皂 zào

皃 mào

Practice Writing 的 (de)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 的 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 的

What does 的 (de) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 的 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 的 and 百?

What mistakes do learners make writing 的?

What common words use 的?

How to Write 的 (de)