得
Meanings · dé
- to obtain
- to get
- to gain
- to catch (a disease)
- proper
- suitable
- proud
- contented
- to allow
- to permit
- ready
- finished
Meanings · dè
- used in 得瑟 dè se
Meanings · de
- structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
Meanings · děi
- to have to
- must
- ought to
- to need to
Characters in this entry
- 得
- dé · obtain, get, gain, acquire
Explore the spelling
Mandarin tones
2 · de2
Compare attested words with these syllables ↗Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.
Connected dictionary
Sentences in context
Exact source-spelling matches. Open the reader for dictionary lookups, construction notes and related examples. Occurrence does not establish a particular dictionary sense.
Read this spelling in Classical texts
Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 20 senses · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
dak1
Cantonese word readings for 得. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.
CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack
Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section
Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.
character
- to get; to obtain; to gain, to acquire
- to contract (disease); to become ill with
- to result in; to produce
- to be ready; finished
- to suit; to fit
- satisfied; contented
- (formal, often used in the negative) can; may; to be permitted
- (Cantonese) to only have; to just have
- interjective particle expressing approval or prohibition; see 得了
- interjective particle expressing frustration or helplessness
- (Cantonese) OK; good
- (Cantonese, often sarcastic) remarkable
character
- Used after a verb or an adjective and before a degree complement.
- Used after a verb to express possibility or capability.
- (Cantonese) Used after a verb to form an adjectival phrase expressing capability.
character
- (chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) to need (something)
- (chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) must; to have to
- (chiefly Mandarin, colloquial) (almost certainly) will
- (dialectal Mandarin) nice; satisfying
character
- (Hokkien) placed after a verb with 會 or 𣍐 before the verb to express possibility or ability
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack