得 meaning and stroke order
To obtain; to get; to gain
How to write 得, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 得
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to obtain
- to get
- to gain
- to catch (a disease)
- proper
- suitable
- structural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
- to have to
- must
- ought to
- to need to
- used in 得瑟[de4 se5]
How 得 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand 寸 grabbing a shell 旦.
Radical: 彳 (to step with the left foot), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 得
Picture a hand 寸 grabbing a shell 旦, an old form of money, while walking along a road 彳. You go out and get something valuable, so 得 (dé) means to obtain.
As dé it means to get, as in 得到 (dédào). As the light particle de it links a verb to a result or degree: 他跑得很快 (tā pǎo de hěn kuài) He runs very fast. As děi it means must, as in 我得走了 (wǒ děi zǒu le) I have to go.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up the three particles 的, 地 and 得, all read de. Use 得 after a verb to describe how it is done (说得好), not before a noun (我的书) or before a verb (慢慢地走).
Common words with 得
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 觉得 | juéde | to think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc) | HSK 1 |
| 得到 | dédào | to get; to obtain; to receive | HSK 1 |
| 记得 | jìde | to remember | HSK 1 |
| 懂得 | dǒngde | to understand; to know; to comprehend | HSK 2 |
| 取得 | qǔdé | to acquire; to get; to obtain | HSK 2 |
| 得出 | déchū | to obtain (a result); to arrive at (a conclusion) | HSK 2 |
| 不得不 | bùdébù | have no choice or option but to; cannot but | HSK 3 |
| 值得 | zhídé | worth the money; to merit; to deserve; to be worth (doing sth) | HSK 3 |
| 认得 | rènde | to recognize; to remember sth (or sb) on seeing it | HSK 3 |
| 显得 | xiǎnde | to seem; to look | HSK 3 |
| 得分 | défēn | to score a point (in a competition, test etc); score; rating; grade | HSK 3 |
| 获得 | huòdé | to obtain; to receive; to get | HSK 4 |
| 赢得 | yíngdé | to win; to gain | HSK 4 |
| 来得及 | láidejí | to have enough time; can do it in time; can still make it | HSK 4 |
得 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 得
How many strokes are in 得?
得 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 得 mean?
得 (dé) means to obtain; to get; to gain. A common word with it is 觉得 (juéde), meaning "to think that ...; to feel that ...; to feel (uncomfortable etc)".
How do you pronounce 得?
得 is pronounced dé, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 得?
The radical of 得 is 彳, which carries the idea of "to step with the left foot". Dictionaries list 得 under this radical.
Is 得 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 得 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
How do I know whether to read 得 as dé, de or děi?
Read it děi when it means must and stands before a verb, as in 你得去 (nǐ děi qù). Read it de when it follows a verb to show degree or result, as in 写得好. Read it dé in words about getting, like 得到 and 取得.
How do I make a negative or a question with the degree pattern using 得?
Put 不 after 得, not before the verb: 他说得不好 (tā shuō de bù hǎo) He does not speak well. For a question, say 他说得好不好 or 他说得怎么样.