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得 . In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
得 , but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
得 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
得 you have here. The definition of the word
得 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
得 , as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Translingual
Stroke order
Stroke order
Han character
得 (Kangxi radical 60, 彳 +8, 11 strokes, cangjie input 竹人日一戈 (HOAMI ), four-corner 26241 , composition ⿰彳 㝵 )
Derived characters
嘚 , 𡐙 , 𪮦 , 𣘱 , 𥊤 , 𥕣 , 𤹬 , 𫣓 , 𬈫 , 𬋂 , 𮔹 , 𭏢
Further reading
Kangxi Dictionary: page 367 , character 31
Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 10137
Dae Jaweon: page 691, character 16
Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 828, character 3
Unihan data for U+5F97
Chinese
Glyph origin
Old Chinese
得
*tɯːɡ
淂
*tɯːɡ
棏
*dɯːɡ, *rtɯːɡ
Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意 ) . The ancient form of 得 is 㝵 , composed of 貝 (“cowry”) + 又 (“hand”) — to pick up a cowry > to obtain valuables. A component 彳 was sometimes added to show that the cowry was picked up on the road.
In the Qin Bamboo and Slip script:
a horizontal line was added to the 又 , which means it is replaced with the related 寸 . This is a feature of Qin script, and many characters that used to compound with 又 now compound with 寸 .
In the Shuowen seal script:
the 貝 corrupts into something resembling 見 . However, this should be an error of Shuowen because it can only be only found in Shuowen and not in historical Qin Seal script, Qin Bamboo, and Slip script.
In the clerical script:
the 貝 is simplified as 目 (“eye”); such simplification can be seen in its early form in Spring and Autumn and Warring States bronze inscriptions, Chu Bamboo, and Silk script, as well as other characters such as 具 . Then it corrupts into 旦 (“dawn”) in later clerical script, and Regular script inherited it.
Etymology
Pulleyblank (1991) relates it to Tibetan ཐུབ ( thub , “ to be able to; to withstand ” ) .
This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Pronunciation 1
Mandarin
(Standard )
(Pinyin ) : dé (de2 )
(Zhuyin ) : ㄉㄜˊ
(Chengdu , Sichuanese Pinyin ) : de2
(Xi'an , Guanzhong Pinyin ) : děi
(Nanjing , Nanjing Pinyin ) : de̊q
Cantonese
(Guangzhou –Hong Kong , Jyutping ) : dak1
(Taishan , Wiktionary ) : ak2
Gan (Wiktionary ) : det6
Hakka
(Sixian , PFS ) : tet
(Meixian , Guangdong ) : dêd5
Jin (Wiktionary ) : dieh4 / deh4
Northern Min (KCR ) : dă̤
Eastern Min (BUC ) : dáik
Southern Min
(Hokkien , POJ ) : tit / tek / tiak / terk
(Teochew , Peng'im ) : dig4 / dêg4
Wu (Northern , Wugniu ) : 7 teq
Xiang (Changsha , Wiktionary ) : de6
Mandarin
Cantonese
Gan
Hakka
Jin
Northern Min
Eastern Min
Southern Min
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Quanzhou , Zhangzhou , Jinjiang , General Taiwanese , Hui'an , Nan'an , Philippines )
(Hokkien : Xiamen , Zhangzhou , General Taiwanese , Nan'an , Anxi , Tong'an )
(Hokkien : Quanzhou , Jinjiang , Hui'an , Philippines )
(Hokkien : Nan'an )
Note :
tit - vernacular (“to obtain”);
tek/tiak/terk - literary.
Baxter –Sagart system 1.1 (2014 )
Character
得
Reading #
1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)
dé
Middle Chinese
‹ tok ›
Old Chinese
/*tˁək/
English
obtain
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:
* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;
* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character
得
Reading #
1/1
No.
2165
Phonetic component
得
Rime group
職
Rime subdivision
0
Corresponding MC rime
德
Old Chinese
/*tɯːɡ/
Definitions
得
to get ; to obtain ; to gain , to acquire
我 得 了 亞軍 。/ 我 得 了 亚军 。 ― Wǒ dé le yàjūn. ― I got second place.
他 得 了 個 壞 名聲 。 [MSC , trad. ] 他 得 了 个 坏 名声 。 [MSC , simp. ] Tā dé le ge huài míngshēng. He gained a bad reputation.
to contract (disease); to become ill with
他 得 了 肺癌 ,活 不 了 多久 。 [MSC , trad. and simp. ] Tā dé le fèi'ái, huó bù liǎo duōjiǔ. He got lung cancer and won't live for long.
to result in; to produce
三 三 得 九 ― sān sān dé jiǔ ― three times three is nine
二 五 得 一 十 [Cantonese ] ― ji6 ng5 dak1 jat1 sap6 ― two times five is ten
八 減 三 得 五 / 八 减 三 得 五 ― bā jiǎn sān dé wǔ ― eight minus three is five
to be ready ; finished
to suit ; to fit
得 體/ 得 体 ― dé tǐ ― appropriate
satisfied ; contented
洋洋自得 ― yángyángzìdé ― to be very pleased with oneself; to be self-satisfied
( formal , often used in the negative) can ; may ; to be permitted
乘客 不得 在 車廂 內 飲食 。 [MSC , trad. ] 乘客 不得 在 车厢 内 饮食 。 [MSC , simp. ] Chéngkè bùdé zài chēxiāng nèi yǐnshí. Passengers are not allowed to eat and drink on the train.
非 依 法定 程序 之 逮捕 、拘禁 、審問 、處罰 ,得 拒絕 之 。 [MSC , trad. ] 非 依 法定 程序 之 逮捕 、拘禁 、审问 、处罚 ,得 拒绝 之 。 [MSC , simp. ] From: Article 8, Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan)Fēi yī fǎdìng chéngxù zhī dàibǔ, jūjìn, shěnwèn, chùfá, dé jùjué zhī. Any arrest, detention, trial, or punishment which is not in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law can be resisted.
( Cantonese ) to only have ; to just have
得 佢 想 去 公園 咋 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 得 佢 想 去 公园 咋 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] dak1 keoi5 soeng2 heoi3 gung1 jyun4-2 zaa3 . Only he wants to go to the park.
得 返 一 分鐘 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 得 返 一 分钟 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] dak1 faan1 jat1 fan1 zung1 . There's just one minute left.
賣 得 嗰 幾 百 蚊 [Cantonese , trad. ] 卖 得 嗰 几 百 蚊 [Cantonese , simp. ] maai6 dak1 go2 gei2 baak3 man1 to have only sold a few hundred dollars
interjective particle expressing approval or prohibition; see 得了
得 了 ,別 再 說 了 。 [MSC , trad. ] 得 了 ,别 再 说 了 。 [MSC , simp. ] Dé le, bié zài shuō le. OK! OK! That's enough.
得 喇 ,知道 喇 。 [Cantonese , trad. and simp. ] dak1 laa3 , zi1 dou3 laa3 . OK! Got it.
我 有 個 表姪女兒 ,今年 二十六 ,談 了 好 幾 個 對象 了 都 沒 談 成 。她 媽 啊 ,一直 託 我 幫忙 呢 。得 ,甭 別人 了 ,就 是 她 了 。 [Beijing Mandarin , trad. ] 我 有 个 表侄女儿 ,今年 二十六 ,谈 了 好 几 个 对象 了 都 没 谈 成 。她 妈 啊 ,一直 托 我 帮忙 呢 。得 ,甭 别人 了 ,就 是 她 了 。 [Beijing Mandarin , simp. ] From: 2000 , 梁左 and 梁欢 , 《闲人马大姐 》 , episode 7Wǒ yǒu ge biǎozhínür, jīnnián èrshíliù, tán le hǎo jǐ ge duìxiàng le dōu méi tán chéng. Tā mā a, yīzhí tuō wǒ bāngmáng ne. Dé , béng biérén le, jiù shi tā le. I've got a niece who's 26 years old this year, who's already dated several guys but none worked out. Her mum's been nagging me to find a guy for her. Alright , we'll set the two up then. There's no need to find someone else.
interjective particle expressing frustration or helplessness
( Cantonese ) OK ; good
你 噉 做 真係 唔得 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 你 噉 做 真系 唔得 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] nei5 gam2 zou6 zan1 hai6 m4 dak1 . You really mustn't do it this way.
( Cantonese , often sarcastic ) remarkable
Synonym: 行
你哋 真係 得 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 你哋 真系 得 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] nei5 dei6 zan1 hai6 dak1 . You guys are really something.
Synonyms
Dialectal synonyms of
能 (“can”)
Variety
Location
Words
Classical Chinese
能
Formal (Written Standard Chinese )
能 , 能夠 , 可以
Northeastern Mandarin
Taiwan
能 , 能夠 , 可以
Malaysia
能
Singapore
能 , 能夠 , 可以
Cantonese
Hong Kong
可以
Hakka
Kuching (Hepo)
得
Eastern Min
Singapore (Fuqing)
會
Southern Min
Penang (Hokkien)
會 , 會使
Singapore (Hokkien)
會 , 會使
Manila (Hokkien)
會 , 會通
Zhongshan Min
Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi)
得 , 可以
Wu
Shanghai
好
Suzhou
好
Ningbo
好
Dialectal synonyms of
行 (“OK”)
Compounds
Pronunciation 2
Note : di is used in poetry, songs.
Note :
Quanzhou:
tiak - literary;
tit - vernacular.
Definitions
得
Used after a verb or an adjective and before a degree complement.
alt. forms: 的 historical or nonstandard
好 得 很 ― hǎo de hěn ― very good
他 痛 得 直 哭 。 ― Tā tòng de zhí kū. ― He is in so much pain that he won't stop crying.
他 跑 得 快 。 ― Tā pǎo de kuài. ― He runs fast.
他 跑 得 像 一 陣 風 。 [MSC , trad. ] 他 跑 得 像 一 阵 风 。 [MSC , simp. ] Tā pǎo de xiàng yī zhèn fēng. He runs like wind.
他 畫 得 好 。/ 他 画 得 好 。 ― Tā huà de hǎo. ― He paints well.
呢啲 嘢 我哋 見 得 多 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 呢啲 嘢 我哋 见 得 多 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] ni1 di1 je5 ngo5 dei6 gin3 dak1 do1 . This sort of thing is nothing new (we have seen a lot of it).
Used after a verb to express possibility or capability.
alt. forms: 的 historical or nonstandard in Mandarin
吃 得 ― chī de ― eatable, edible
看 得 見 / 看 得 见 ― kàn de jiàn ― able to see
做 不 得 ― zuò bù de ― must not be done
這 雙 鞋 穿 得 。/ 这 双 鞋 穿 得 。 ― Zhè shuāng xié chuān de . ― These shoes fit well.
這個 人 批評 不 得 。 [MSC , trad. ] 这个 人 批评 不 得 。 [MSC , simp. ] Zhège rén pīpíng bù de . He's not a man to criticize.
( Cantonese ) Used after a verb to form an adjectival phrase expressing capability.
佢 好 食 得 。 [Cantonese ] ― keoi5 hou2 sik6 dak1 . ― He could eat a lot.
呢 本 書 都 幾 賣 得 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 呢 本 书 都 几 卖 得 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] ne1 bun2 syu1 dou1 gei2 maai6 dak1 . This book sells quite a few copies.
冇 邊個 衰 得 過 佢 。 [Cantonese , trad. ] 冇 边个 衰 得 过 佢 。 [Cantonese , simp. ] mou5 bin1 go3 seoi1 dak1 gwo3 keoi5 . There's no one who could be worse than him.
Usage notes
When it is used between a verb and the complement, and the complement is used to indicate possibility or capacity, the negative form replaces 得 with 不 (bù ).
寫 得 好 / 写 得 好 ― xiě de hǎo ― able to write well
寫 不 好 / 写 不 好 ― xiě bù hǎo ― unable to write well
If there is no complement, or if the complement describes the result or the extent of the verb, the negative form has 得不 in the place of 得 .
寫 得 好 / 写 得 好 ― xiě de hǎo ― write well
寫 得 不 好 / 写 得 不 好 ― xiě de bù hǎo ― write not well
If it is used after a verb-object construction, the verb is repeated again as "verb-object-verb-得 -complement".
寫字 寫 得 好 / 写字 写 得 好 ― xiězì xiě de hǎo ― write characters well
"Object-verb-得 -complement" is also used.
字 寫 得 好 / 字 写 得 好 ― zì xiě de hǎo ― characters being well-written
Synonyms
( used after a verb or an adjective and before a degree complement ) : ( Hokkien ) 甲
Compounds
Pronunciation 3
Definitions
得
( chiefly Mandarin , colloquial ) to need (something)
這 份 表格 得 多少 時間 才 能 填 完 ? [MSC , trad. ] 这 份 表格 得 多少 时间 才 能 填 完 ? [MSC , simp. ] Zhè fèn biǎogé děi duōshào shíjiān cái néng tián wán? How much time will one need to fill this form?
( chiefly Mandarin , colloquial ) must ; to have to
我 得 走 了 。 ― Wǒ děi zǒu le. ― I must go (now).
……是 種 病 ,得 治 ! [MSC , trad. ] ……是 种 病 ,得 治 ! [MSC , simp. ] ...... shì zhǒng bìng, děi zhì! ... is actually an illness. It has to be treated! ( humorous, slang )
( chiefly Mandarin , colloquial ) (almost certainly ) will
再 不 回去 ,就 得 趕不上 末班車 了 。 [MSC , trad. ] 再 不 回去 ,就 得 赶不上 末班车 了 。 [MSC , simp. ] Zài bù huíqù, jiù děi gǎnbùshàng mòbānchē le. If we don't go back now, we won't be able to catch the last bus.
( dialectal Mandarin ) nice ; satisfying
Synonyms
一定愛 / 一定爱 ( Hakka ) 一定要 務必 / 务必 ( wùbì ) 務期 / 务期 ( wùqī ) ( literary ) 務須 / 务须 ( wùxū ) 定著 / 定着 ( tiānn-tio̍h ) ( Min Nan ) 必得 必須 / 必须 ( bìxū ) 應當 / 应当 ( yīngdāng ) ( law ) 煞著 / 煞着 ( Hokkien ) 著愛 / 着爱 ( tio̍h-ài ) ( Xiamen Hokkien, Taiwanese Hokkien ) 非得 ( fēiděi )
Compounds
Pronunciation 4
Definitions
得
( Hokkien ) placed after a verb with 會 or 𣍐 before the verb to express possibility or ability
𣍐堪得 / 𫧃堪得 [Hokkien ] ― bōe-kham-tit [Pe̍h-ōe-jī ] ― to be unable to stand or endure or bear something
References
Japanese
Kanji
得
(Fifth grade kyōiku kanji )
acquire
Readings
Etymology 1
From Middle Chinese 得 (MC tok ).
Pronunciation
Adjective
得( とく ) • (toku ) ←とく ( toku ) ? -na (adnominal 得( とく ) な ( toku na ) , adverbial 得( とく ) に ( toku ni ) )
beneficial ; with gain
Antonym: 損 ( son )
500円( ごひゃくえん ) お得( とく ) go-hyaku-en o-toku getting 500 yen
Inflection
Stem forms
Imperfective (未然形 )
得だろ
とくだろ
toku daro
Continuative (連用形 )
得で
とくで
toku de
Terminal (終止形 )
得だ
とくだ
toku da
Attributive (連体形 )
得な
とくな
toku na
Hypothetical (仮定形 )
得なら
とくなら
toku nara
Imperative (命令形 )
得であれ
とくであれ
toku de are
Key constructions
Informal negative
得ではない 得じゃない
とくではない とくじゃない
toku de wa nai toku ja nai
Informal past
得だった
とくだった
toku datta
Informal negative past
得ではなかった 得じゃなかった
とくではなかった とくじゃなかった
toku de wa nakatta toku ja nakatta
Formal
得です
とくです
toku desu
Formal negative
得ではありません 得じゃありません
とくではありません とくじゃありません
toku de wa arimasen toku ja arimasen
Formal past
得でした
とくでした
toku deshita
Formal negative past
得ではありませんでした 得じゃありませんでした
とくではありませんでした とくじゃありませんでした
toku de wa arimasen deshita toku ja arimasen deshita
Conjunctive
得で
とくで
toku de
Conditional
得なら(ば)
とくなら(ば)
toku nara (ba)
Provisional
得だったら
とくだったら
toku dattara
Volitional
得だろう
とくだろう
toku darō
Adverbial
得に
とくに
toku ni
Degree
得さ
とくさ
tokusa
Descendants
Noun
得( とく ) • (toku ) ←とく ( toku ) ?
beneficial ; with gain
Antonym: 損 ( son )
Etymology 2
Verb
得( う ) • (u ) † nidan
Classical Japanese form of 得る ( uru )
Conjugation
Stem forms
Irrealis (未然形 )
得
え
e
Continuative (連用形 )
得
え
e
Terminal (終止形 )
得
う
u
Attributive (連体形 )
得る
うる
uru
Realis (已然形 )
得れ
うれ
ure
Imperative (命令形 )
得よ
えよ
eyo
Key constructions
Negative
得ず
えず
ezu
Contrasting conjunction
得れど
うれど
uredo
Causal conjunction
得れば
うれば
ureba
Conditional conjunction
得ば
えば
eba
Past tense (firsthand knowledge)
得き
えき
eki
Past tense (secondhand knowledge)
得けり
えけり
ekeri
Perfect tense (conscious action)
得つ
えつ
etu
Perfect tense (natural event)
得ぬ
えぬ
enu
Perfect-continuative tense
得たり
えたり
etari
Volitional
得む
えむ
emu
References
Korean
Etymology
From Middle Chinese 得 (MC tok ).
Hanja
Wikisource
得 (eumhun 얻을 득 ( eodeul deuk ) )
hanja form? of 득 ( “ obtain , achieve ” )
hanja form? of 득 ( “ gain , benefit ” )
hanja form? of 득 ( “ satisfaction ” )
Derived terms
Compounds
납득 (納得 , napdeuk )
득점 (得點 , deukjeom )
득남 (得男 , deungnam )
득녀 (得女 , deungnyeo )
취득 (取得 , chwideuk )
터득 (攄得 , teodeuk )
득실 (得失 , deuksil )
득의 (得意 , deugui )
이득 (利得 , ideuk )
획득 (獲得 , hoekdeuk )
기득권 (旣得權 , gideukgwon )
부득이 (不得已 , budeugi )
References
국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전/電子字典 .
Vietnamese
Han character
得 : Hán Việt readings: đắc
得 : Nôm readings: đác , được , đắc , đắt
Nôm form of được ( “ to get , to obtain ” ) .
References