Introduction
English puts a describing clause after the noun — the book I bought. Chinese puts it before, joined on with 的 (de): 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū). Reverse the English and you have the Chinese. This one rule replaces the whole of "who / which / that".
Overview
Structure: [Phrase] + 的 (de) + Noun
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + V + 的 + N | 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū) | the book I bought |
| V + O + 的 + N | 吃饭的地方 (chī fàn de dìfang) | a place to eat |
| Adj + 的 + N | 很大的房子 (hěn dà de fángzi) | a big house |
| V + 的（noun dropped） | 我买的 (wǒ mǎi de) | the one I bought |
| 在 + Place + 的 + N | 在北京的朋友 (zài Běijīng de péngyou) | the friend who's in Beijing |
Everything that describes the noun comes first:
- ✓ 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū) — the book I bought
- ❌ 书我买的 (shū wǒ mǎi de) — English order, and it does not work.
- The noun is always last, however long the phrase in front of it: 昨天我在书店买的那本书 (zuótiān wǒ zài shūdiàn mǎi de nà běn shū) — the book I bought at the bookshop yesterday.
- When both sides already know which thing you mean, the noun can go: 这是我买的。(Zhè shì wǒ mǎi de.) — This is the one I bought.
Examples
这是我买的书。
Zhè shì wǒ mǎi de shū.
This is the book I bought.
我想找一个吃饭的地方。
Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yí ge chī fàn de dìfang.
I want to find somewhere to eat.
他是教我中文的老师。
Tā shì jiāo wǒ Zhōngwén de lǎoshī.
He's the teacher who teaches me Chinese.
昨天来的那个人是谁？
Zuótiān lái de nàge rén shì shéi?
Who was the person who came yesterday?
这是我妈妈做的菜。
Zhè shì wǒ māma zuò de cài.
This is the food my mother cooked.
那本书是我的，这本是你的。
Nà běn shū shì wǒ de, zhè běn shì nǐ de.
That book is mine, this one is yours.
Usage Notes
- The 的 (de) here is the same 的 as in 我的书 (wǒ de shū) — my book. Possession and description are one structure in Chinese.
- Read it backwards to translate: 我买的书 (wǒ mǎi de shū) → "I bought" + 的 + "book" → the book I bought.
- A single adjective before a common noun often drops 的 (de): 好人 (hǎo rén) — a good person，中国菜 (Zhōngguó cài) — Chinese food. Longer descriptions keep it.
- With 很 (hěn) the 的 comes back: 很大的房子 (hěn dà de fángzi) — a big house.
- 的 (de) is neutral tone and never stressed, however long the phrase before it.