Video lesson: 地 with adverbs (de) in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 2 of 3
视频课：“的”“地”“得”（二）
的, 地 and 得 are all said de in Mandarin Chinese, and each does a different job. This second part is about 地, which goes between an adverb and its verb to say how something is done, with example sentences built up a word at a time, and how to tell it apart from 的.
The grammar guide: Chinese grammar de particles summary: 的, 地 and 得
Chapters
Example sentences
Vocabulary list 词单
- Vocabulary list: Video lesson: 地 with adverbs (de) in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 2 of 3 语法：的、得、地 19 words and 5 example sentences
Exercises 练习
- Exercises: Chinese grammar de particles summary: 的, 地 and 得 语法：的、得、地 练习 2 drills over 11 characters, and 1 grammar exercise over 3 items
Transcript
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0:05
Quick question. In English, slow becomes slowly, and careful becomes carefully. How does Chinese do that?
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0:14
With one of the three characters from part one. Here they are again. “的”。“地”。“得”。 All three sound the same, and each has its own job.
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0:22
In part one, it was the first, for the possessive and for adjectives. Today it's the second, named after its two parts, earth and also.
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0:36
That's right. It has six strokes, and it's written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese. On the left is the character for earth, which is also its radical. On the right is the character for also. So people call it this. 土也“地”。
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0:51
Does it have anything to do with the earth?
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0:54
Yes, it does have other uses. As a noun it usually means ground or land, and then it's said differently, with a falling tone. You'll hear it in words like these. 地图。地铁。
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1:09
'Map' and 'subway'. Same character, different sound. So when does it sound like the other two?
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1:18
When it does today's job. Job three: it turns a description into an adverb, saying how something is done. It goes between the adverb and the verb. Here's one for when someone speaks too fast. 请慢慢地说。
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1:38
'Please speak slowly.' Every learner needs that one. Let's go word by word.
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1:45
请。
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1:46
Please.
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1:47
慢慢。
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1:48
Slow, said twice. Doubled like this, it means nice and slow.
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1:54
“地”。
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1:55
This turns slow into slowly.
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1:58
说。
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1:58
Speak.
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1:59
All together. 请慢慢地说。
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2:02
In 'please speak slowly', slowly comes after speak. In Chinese it's the other way round: slow, then our word, then speak. The adverb comes first.
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2:17
Exactly. This next one is about a friend at lunch. Before we say how, he's just eating. 他吃饭。
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2:27
'He's eating.' No word yet on how.
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2:30
Now let's say how. 他很快地吃饭。
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2:36
'He's eating quickly.' Maybe he has a meeting at one. Let's go word by word.
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2:43
他。
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2:44
He.
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2:45
很。
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2:46
Very.
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2:46
快。
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2:47
Fast.
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2:48
“地”。
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2:49
Fast becomes quickly.
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2:51
吃饭。
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2:52
Eat, or have a meal.
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2:54
Once more. 他很快地吃饭。
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2:58
Very fast, then our word, then eat. Remember very big dogs in part one? That used the first character before a noun. Here, it's the second before a verb.
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3:10
That's right. This next one is advice for a new driver. 你应该小心地开车。
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3:20
'You should drive carefully.' Still good advice after you've passed the test. Let's go word by word.
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3:29
你。
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3:30
You.
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3:31
应该。
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3:32
Should.
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3:33
小心。
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3:34
Careful.
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3:35
“地”。
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3:36
This turns careful into carefully.
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3:39
开车。
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3:40
Drive.
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3:41
Once more. 你应该小心地开车。
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3:45
Careful becomes carefully. Can we use it to say how someone studies, too?
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3:50
Yes. This next one is about a student. Before we say how, she's just studying. 她学习中文。
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3:59
'She studies Chinese.' Good choice.
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4:02
Now let's say how. 她很认真地学习中文。
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4:07
'She studies Chinese very seriously.' Just like you, watching this. Let's go word by word.
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4:16
她。
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4:17
She.
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4:18
很。
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4:19
Very.
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4:20
认真。
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4:21
Serious.
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4:22
“地”。
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4:23
Serious becomes seriously.
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4:25
学习。
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4:27
Study.
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4:28
中文。
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4:29
Chinese.
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4:30
Once more. 她很认真地学习中文。
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4:34
Do you always need our word before a verb?
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4:36
Not always. With a two-syllable word on its own, you'll often hear it left out. Listen. 认真学习。很认真地学习。
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4:47
'Study seriously' and 'study very seriously'. When we add very, we usually keep our word. Remember big dog and very big dog in part one? A similar pattern, with a different character.
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5:02
So how do you tell it apart from the first character? Listen to both. 可爱的动物。小心地开车。
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5:12
'Cute animals' and 'drive carefully'. Animals is a noun, so that phrase uses the first character. Drive is a verb, so that one uses today's.
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5:24
Remember the rhyme from part one? A noun runs along behind the first character. With today's character, a verb comes after it.
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5:32
Here's an aside from poetry. You don't need to learn it. It's an interesting look at how these two used to be written. In a famous poem, 徐志摩 says goodbye to Cambridge, and it begins like this. 轻轻的我走了，正如我轻轻的来。
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5:55
'Softly I go, just as softly I came.' Softly says how he leaves, and the poem writes it with the first character. That was more common back then, and a poet can take a little licence too. Today we'd write the second. So do people still mix them up?
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6:13
All the time. Online, you'll often see the first character written where today's should be. Teachers mark it wrong, but it's very common.
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6:21
A bit like your and you're in English, then. Now, quiz time! Which of these means 'drive carefully'? Have a think.
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6:42
It's this one. 小心地开车。 Drive is a verb, so it takes today's character. The other one means a careful driver, a noun. 小心的司机。
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6:55
'Drive carefully' describes the action, and 'a careful driver' describes the person. Let's go through today's job once more. Our character goes between an adverb and its verb, like please speak slowly.
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7:12
It's often left out with a two-syllable word on its own, and kept once you add the word for very.
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7:18
And before a noun, it's the first character instead.
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7:21
In part three, the last one, which comes after verbs. 双人“得”。
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7:26
The one named after a part that looks like two people. Until then, you can save this lesson's sentences and practise them at Chinese Boost dot com.
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7:37
慢慢地学，下次见！
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7:39
'Take it slowly, and see you next time!' Bye for now!
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- Video lesson: 的 for the possessive, and with adjectives (de) in Mandarin Chinese grammar, part 1 of 3 A1
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