得 (děi) (must / have to)
IntroducedThe same character has different pronunciations
- You need to leave in time for an appointment.
- I我must得go走(completed / change)了。 — must得 is read děi and expresses necessity here.
You need to leave in time for an appointment. What does 我得走了。 communicate?
得 is read děi and expresses necessity here. The unstressed de follows a verb in a complement, while dé occurs in obtaining or gaining. Position and meaning determine the reading.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is must得 (děi) (must / have to). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
I我must得go走了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I've got to go: 我 ____ 走了。
得 (děi) + Verb = must: 我得走了.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, I我must得go走(completed / change)了。: must得 is read děi and expresses necessity here.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
How is 得 read when it means “must”?
得 = děi (must); de = the degree particle; dé = to obtain.
Know the boundary
- The unstressed de follows a verb in a complement, while dé occurs in obtaining or gaining.
- Position and meaning determine the reading.
得 always reads “de” in the neutral tone.
Not here — meaning “must”, it's děi.
得 always has the neutral-tone pronunciation de.
The unstressed de follows a verb in a complement, while dé occurs in obtaining or gaining. Position and meaning determine the reading. 得 is read děi and expresses necessity here.
Use the distinction
- must得 is read děi and expresses necessity here.
- The unstressed de follows a verb in a complement, while dé occurs in obtaining or gaining. Position and meaning determine the reading.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Auxiliary verbs.
You need to leave in time for an appointment. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.