HSK 1
(的) omission
( de)
(omission of 的)
Structure
Pronoun/Noun + (的) + Close Relation/Body Part/Institution
How it works
In Chinese, the possessive particle '的' (de) can be omitted when expressing a close, personal relationship. This typically occurs between a pronoun or noun and words representing family members, close friends, or internalized belongings like one's body or workplace.
Examples
我妈妈是老师。
Wǒ māma shì lǎoshī.
My mom is a teacher.
他爸爸在医院。
Tā bàba zài yīyuàn.
His dad is at the hospital.
我们学校很大。
Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.
Our school is very big.
Common mistakes
Do not omit '的' when describing objects that are not 'close' or personal, such as '我的书' (my book); saying '我书' sounds unnatural.
Tip
If you're unsure, keeping '的' is almost always grammatically correct, but omitting it makes you sound more like a native speaker when talking about family.
More HSK 1 grammar
See (的) omission in real Chinese
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