得

See also: 🉐

得	U+5F97, 得 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5F97

← 徖
[U+5F96]

CJK Unified Ideographs

徘 →
[U+5F98]

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

𫣓, 嘚, 𡐙, 𪮦, 𬈫, 𣘱, 𬋂, 𥊤, 𥕣, 𮔹, 𤹬, 𭏢

Chinese

simp. and trad.		得
2nd round simp.		𬁟
alternative forms		㝵𠭁𧴫䙷㝶

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 得
Shang		Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Bronze inscriptions	Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (得) (Zhengzhang, 2003)

	Old Chinese
得	*tɯːɡ
淂	*tɯːɡ
棏	dɯːɡ, rtɯːɡ

Ideogrammic compound (會意) . 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, SP): de²
Cantonese
(Guangzhou, Jyutping): dak¹
(Taishan, Wiktionary): ak²
Gan (Wiktionary): det⁶
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): tet
(Meixian, Guangdong): dêd⁵
Jin (Wiktionary): dieh⁴ / deh⁴
Min Bei (KCR): dă̤
Min Dong (BUC): dáik
Min Nan
(Hokkien, POJ): tit / tek / tiak
(Teochew, Peng'im): dig⁴ / dêg⁴
Wu (Wiktionary): teq (T4)
Xiang (Wiktionary): de⁶

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: dé
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄜˊ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: dé
  - Wade–Giles: tê²
  - Yale: dé
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: der
  - Palladius: дэ (dɛ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɤ³⁵/
- (Chengdu)
  - Sichuanese Pinyin: de²
  - Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: de
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɛ²¹/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: dak¹
  - Yale: dāk
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dak⁷
  - Guangdong Romanization: deg¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɐk̚⁵/
- (Taishanese, Taicheng)
  - Wiktionary: ak²
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /ak̚⁵⁵/
Gan
- (Nanchang)
  - Wiktionary: det⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɛt̚⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: tet
  - Hakka Romanization System: ded`
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ded⁵
  - Sinological IPA: /tet̚²/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: dêd⁵
  - Sinological IPA: /tɛt̚¹/
Jin
- (Taiyuan)⁺
  - Wiktionary: dieh⁴ / deh⁴
  - Sinological IPA (old-style): /tiəʔ²/, /təʔ²/
Min Bei
- (Jian'ou)
  - Kienning Colloquial Romanized: dă̤
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɛ²⁴/
Min Dong
- (Fuzhou)
  - Bàng-uâ-cê: dáik
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /taiʔ²⁴/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Jinjiang, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tit
  - Tâi-lô: tit
  - Phofsit Daibuun: did
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /tit̚³²/
  - IPA (Quanzhou, Jinjiang): /tit̚⁵/
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tek
  - Tâi-lô: tik
  - Phofsit Daibuun: deg
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /tiɪk̚³²/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tiak
  - Tâi-lô: tiak
  - Phofsit Daibuun: diag
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /tiak̚⁵/

Note:

tit - vernacular;
tek/tiak - literary.

- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: dig⁴ / dêg⁴
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tik / tek
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tik̚²/, /tek̚²/
Wu
- (Shanghainese)
  - Wiktionary: teq (T4)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /təʔ⁵⁵/
Xiang
- (Changsha)
  - Wiktionary: de⁶
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɤ̞²⁴/

Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 得
Mandarin	Beijing	/tɤ³⁵/ /tei²¹⁴/
	Harbin	/tɤ²⁴/ ～意 /tɤ²¹³/ ～病
	Tianjin	/tɤ⁴⁵/ /tei¹³/ ～虧
	Jinan	/tə²¹³/ /tei²¹³/
	Qingdao	/te⁵⁵/
	Zhengzhou	/tɛ²⁴/
	Xi'an	/tei²¹/
	Xining	/ti⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/ta¹³/ /tia¹³/ /tə¹³/
	Lanzhou	/tə¹³/
	Ürümqi	/tɤ⁵¹/ /tei⁵¹/
	Wuhan	/tɤ²¹³/
	Chengdu	/te³¹/
	Guiyang	/tɛ²¹/
	Kunming	/tə³¹/
	Nanjing	/təʔ⁵/
	Hefei	/tɐʔ⁵/
Jin	Taiyuan	/tiəʔ²/ ～罪 /təʔ²/ ～到
	Pingyao	/tiʌʔ¹³/ 吃～ /tʌʔ¹³/ ～手
	Hohhot	/tiəʔ⁴³/
Wu	Shanghai	/təʔ⁵/
	Suzhou	/təʔ⁵/
	Hangzhou	/təʔ⁵/
	Wenzhou	/te²¹³/
Hui	Shexian	/teʔ²¹/
Hui	Tunxi	/ti⁵/
Xiang	Changsha	/tə²⁴/
Xiang	Xiangtan	/tæ²⁴/
Gan	Nanchang	/tɛʔ⁵/
Hakka	Meixian	/tet̚¹/
Hakka	Taoyuan	/tet̚²²/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/tɐk̚⁵/
	Nanning	/tɐk̚⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/tɐk̚⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Min Nan)	/tik̚³²/ /tit̚³²/
	Fuzhou (Min Dong)	/taiʔ²³/
	Jian'ou (Min Bei)	/tɛ²⁴/
	Shantou (Min Nan)	/tik̚²/
	Haikou (Min Nan)	/ʔdit̚⁵/

Middle Chinese: /tək̚/

Rime
Character	得
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	端 (5)
Final (韻)	登 (131)
Tone (調)	Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	I
Fanqie	多則切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/tək̚/
Pan Wuyun	/tək̚/
Shao Rongfen	/tək̚/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/tək̚/
Li Rong	/tək̚/
Wang Li	/tək̚/
Bernard Karlgren	/tək̚/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	de
Expected Cantonese Reflex	dak¹

Old Chinese
(Baxter–Sagart): /*tˤək/
(Zhengzhang): /*tɯːɡ/

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. [t] 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。／他得了个坏名声。 ― 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. [Pinyin]
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 [Jyutping] ― 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 ― détǐ ― 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. [Pinyin]
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. [Pinyin]
  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 jyun^4-2 zaa³. [Jyutping]
Only he wants to go to the park.
得返一分鐘。／得返一分钟。 [Cantonese] ― dak¹ faan¹ jat¹ fan¹ zung¹. [Jyutping] ― There's just one minute left.
- 1985, 黃霑 (lyrics), “童年”, in 海底針, performed by 蔡國權:
  硬幣財富卻每日得一個 [Literary Cantonese, trad.]
  硬币财富却每日得一个 [Literary Cantonese, simp.]
  ngaang⁶ bai⁶ coi⁴ fu³ koek³ mui⁵ jat⁶ dak¹ jat¹ go³ [Jyutping]
  (please add an English translation of this example)
interjective particle expressing approval or prohibition; see 得了
得了，別再說了。／得了，别再说了。 ― Dé le, bié zài shuō le. ― OK! OK! That's enough.
得喇，知道喇。 [Cantonese] ― dak¹ laa³, zi¹ dou³ laa³. [Jyutping] ― 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 7
  Wǒ 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. [Pinyin]
  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. [Jyutping]
You really mustn't do it this way.
(Cantonese, often sarcastic) remarkable
Synonym: 行 (xíng)
你哋真係得。／你哋真系得。 [Cantonese] ― nei⁵ dei⁶ zan¹ hai⁶ dak¹. [Jyutping] ― You guys are really something.

Synonyms

Dialectal synonyms of 能 (“can”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Classical Chinese		能
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		能, 能夠, 可以
Mandarin	Taiwan	能, 能夠, 可以
	Malaysia	能
	Singapore	能, 能夠, 可以
Cantonese	Hong Kong	可以
Hakka	Kuching (Hepo)	得
Min Dong	Singapore (Fuqing)	會
Min Nan	Penang (Hokkien)	會, 會使
	Singapore (Hokkien)	會, 會使
	Manila (Hokkien)	會, 會通
Wu	Shanghai	好
	Suzhou	好
	Ningbo	好

Dialectal synonyms of 行 (“OK”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		行
Mandarin	Beijing	行
Mandarin	Taiwan	行
Cantonese	Guangzhou	得
Cantonese	Hong Kong	得
Wu	Shanghai	來三, 來事
Wu	Suzhou	來三

Compounds

Derived terms from 得

一得
一索得男 (yīsuǒdénán)
一蹴而得
不付得
不可得
不得 (bùdé)
不消得
亡戟得矛
亡羊得牛
但得
何得 (hédé)
佹得佹失
偶得
分得
到得 (dàodé)
博得 (bódé)
取得 (qǔdé)
只得 (zhǐdé)
各得其宜
各得其所 (gèdéqísuǒ)
哭笑不得 (kūxiàobùdé)
唾手可得 (tuòshǒukědé)
喜得 (xǐdé)
垂手可得 (chuíshǒukědé)
垂手而得
塞得港
多得 (duōdé)
安得 (āndé)
巴得
幸得 (xìngdé)
引得 (yǐndé)
彼得 (Bǐdé)
彼得大帝 (Bǐdé Dàdì)
得一望十
得不酬失
得主 (dézhǔ)
得了 (deliǎo)
得人
得令
得以 (déyǐ)
得似
得先手
得其三昧
得其所
得其所哉
得分 (défēn)
得利 (délì)
得到 (dédào)
得力 (délì)
得勿
得名 (démíng)
得命
得失 (déshī)
得宜 (déyí)
得寸思尺
得尺得寸
得差
得年 (dénián)
得幸
得得
得志 (dézhì)
得悉 (déxī)
得意 (déyì)
得所
得手 (déshǒu)
得挹芝眉
得救 (déjiù)
得未曾有 (déwèicéngyǒu)
得果
得民
得沾化雨
得法 (défǎ)
得理
得用
得病 (débìng)
得益 (déyì)
得知 (dézhī)
得神
得票 (dépiào)

得福不知
得空 (dékòng)
得第
得米 (dak1 mai5)
得缺
得罪 (dézuì)
得色
得著／得着 (dézháo)
得衷
得解
得逞 (déchěng)
得道 (dédào)
得雄
心安理得 (xīn'ānlǐdé)
心得 (xīndé)
必不得已
必得 (bìdé)
志在必得 (zhìzàibìdé)
患得患失 (huàndéhuànshī)
情非得已 (qíngfēidéyǐ)
所得 (suǒdé)
抵得
拔十得五
拾得 (shídé)
捷足先得
既得利益 (jìdé lìyì)
旱苗得雨
有一得一
有得
楚弓楚得
死得其所
毋得
求仁得仁 (qiúréndérén)
焉得
特利可得
玩不得的
疾足先得
直得
相得 (xiāngdé)
硬是要得
算得 (suàndé)
老年得子
自得 (zìdé)
苟得
莫得
落得
迫不得已 (pòbùdéyǐ)
逐兔先得
逼不得已
那得 (nǎdé)
勒里勒得
得采
一無所得／一无所得 (yīwúsuǒdé)
一舉兩得／一举两得 (yījǔliǎngdé)
一舉數得／一举数得
乞漿得酒／乞浆得酒
人善得人欺，馬善得人騎／人善得人欺，马善得人骑 (rén shàn dé rén qī, mǎ shàn dé rén qí)
佐饔得嘗／佐饔得尝
償得夙願／偿得夙愿
先馳得點／先驰得点
出手得盧／出手得卢
動輒得咎／动辄得咎
勢不得已／势不得已
啞子得夢／哑子得梦
因禍得福／因祸得福 (yīnhuòdéfú)
失而復得／失而复得 (shī'érfùdé)
奧得河／奥得河 (Àodé Hé)
得不償失／得不偿失 (débùchángshī)
得不補失／得不补失
得來不易／得来不易 (déláibùyì)
得償所願／得偿所愿 (déchángsuǒyuàn)
得勁／得劲 (déjìn)
得勝／得胜 (déshèng)
得勢／得势 (déshì)
得匣還珠／得匣还珠
得天獨厚／得天独厚 (détiāndúhòu)
得婿如龍／得婿如龙
得實／得实
得寵／得宠 (déchǒng)

得寸進尺／得寸进尺 (décùnjìnchǐ)
得心應手／得心应手 (déxīnyìngshǒu)
得成秦晉／得成秦晋
得新厭舊／得新厌旧
得新忘舊／得新忘旧
得新棄舊／得新弃旧
得時／得时 (déshí)
得未嘗有／得未尝有
得標／得标
得樣兒／得样儿
得權重任／得权重任 (dé quán zhòngrèn)
得步進步／得步进步
得濟／得济
得無／得无
得獎／得奖 (déjiǎng)
得當／得当 (dédàng)
得竅／得窍
得而復失／得而复失 (dé'érfùshī)
得而誅之／得而诛之
得職／得职
得臉／得脸
得親順親／得亲顺亲
得計／得计 (déjì)
得詔／得诏 (dézhào)
得運／得运
得過／得过
得錢賣放／得钱卖放
得閒／得闲 (déxián)
得間／得间
得隴望蜀／得陇望蜀 (délǒngwàngshǔ)
得雋／得隽
得體／得体 (détǐ)
得魚忘筌／得鱼忘筌
志得意滿／志得意满 (zhìdéyìmǎn)
志滿氣得／志满气得
意得志滿／意得志满
意滿志得／意满志得
打自得兒／打自得儿
拔得頭籌／拔得头筹
探驪得珠／探骊得珠
敖得薩／敖得萨
既得權／既得权
會堪得／会堪得 (ē-kham-tit)
樂得／乐得 (lèdé)
氣滿志得／气满志得
求漿得酒／求浆得酒
沒可得／没可得
浪得虛名／浪得虚名 (làngdéxūmíng)
猶魚得水／犹鱼得水
獲得／获得 (huòdé)
王得祿墓／王得禄墓
理得辭順／理得辞顺
盲者得鏡／盲者得镜
種瓜得瓜／种瓜得瓜 (zhòngguādéguā)
種豆得豆／种豆得豆
種麥得麥／种麦得麦
罪有應得／罪有应得 (zuìyǒuyīngdé)
羝乳得歸／羝乳得归
聖彼得堡／圣彼得堡 (Shèng Bǐdébǎo)
萬不得已／万不得已 (wànbùdéyǐ)
蛟龍得水／蛟龙得水
見得／见得 (jiàndé)
談得攏／谈得拢
負所得稅／负所得税
貪多務得／贪多务得
貪得無厭／贪得无厌 (tāndéwúyàn)
買得／买得
賦得／赋得
贏得／赢得 (yíngdé)
軒軒甚得／轩轩甚得
道得應得／道得应得
適得其反／适得其反 (shìdéqífǎn)
適得其所／适得其所 (shìdéqísuǒ)
鑽火得冰／钻火得冰
開普威得／开普威得
難得／难得 (nándé)
馬是得／马是得
鴟得腐鼠／鸱得腐鼠

Pronunciation 2

Mandarin
(Pinyin): de, di (de⁵, di⁵)
(Zhuyin): ˙ㄉㄜ, ˙ㄉㄧ
Cantonese (Jyutping): dak¹
Hakka
(Sixian, PFS): tet / é
(Meixian, Guangdong): dêd⁵
Min Nan (POJ): tek / tiak / tit

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: de
  - Zhuyin: ˙ㄉㄜ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: de̊
  - Wade–Giles: tê⁵
  - Yale: de
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .de
  - Palladius: дэ (dɛ)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /d̥ə/
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: di
  - Zhuyin: ˙ㄉㄧ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: di̊
  - Wade–Giles: ti⁵
  - Yale: di
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: .di
  - Palladius: ди (di)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /d̥i/

Note: di is used in poetry, songs.

Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: dak¹
  - Yale: dāk
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dak⁷
  - Guangdong Romanization: deg¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɐk̚⁵/
Hakka
- (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
  - Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: tet / é
  - Hakka Romanization System: ded` / e`
  - Hagfa Pinyim: ded⁵ / e³
  - Sinological IPA: /tet̚²/, /e³¹/
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: dêd⁵
  - Sinological IPA: /tɛt̚¹/
Min Nan
- (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tek
  - Tâi-lô: tik
  - Phofsit Daibuun: deg
  - IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /tiɪk̚³²/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tiak
  - Tâi-lô: tiak
  - Phofsit Daibuun: diag
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /tiak̚⁵/
- (Hokkien: Quanzhou, Zhangzhou)
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī: tit
  - Tâi-lô: tit
  - Phofsit Daibuun: did
  - IPA (Zhangzhou): /tit̚³²/
  - IPA (Quanzhou): /tit̚⁵/

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。／他跑得像一阵风。 ― 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. [Jyutping]
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。／这个人批评不得。 ― Zhège rén pīpíng bù de. ― He's not a man to criticize.
- 賣得幾多錢？ [Cantonese, trad.]
  卖得几多钱？ [Cantonese, simp.]
  From: 《氹氹轉，菊花園》, traditional children's song
  maai⁶ dak¹ gei² do¹ cin^4-2? [Jyutping]
  How much can it sell for?
(Cantonese) Used after a verb to form an adjectival phrase expressing capability.
佢好食得。 [Cantonese] ― keoi⁵ hou² sik⁶ dak¹. [Jyutping] ― 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. [Jyutping]
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. [Jyutping]
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

Compounds

Derived terms from 得

下得
下得去
不值得 (bùzhídé)
不到得
不由得 (bùyóude)
不省得
不道得
了不得 (liǎobùdé)
了得 (liǎodé)
了得了
使不得 (shǐbùdé)
使得 (shǐde)
值得 (zhídé)
做得 (zuòde)
做得了
免不得
免得 (miǎnde)
去得
受不得 (shòubude)
受得了 (shòudeliǎo)
可了不得
吃不得
吃得
吃得住 (chīdezhù)
吃得光
吃得消 (chīdexiāo)
合得著
少不得
巴不得 (bābudé)
怨不得
怪不得 (guàibude)
恨不得 (hènbude)
想得美 (xiǎngdeměi)
懂得 (dǒngde)
戳得住
打得逼直
投至得
拿得住
拿得起
犯得上 (fàndeshàng)

犯得著 (fàndezháo)
由不得
由得 (yóude)
省得 (shěngde)
看得上眼
看得起 (kàndeqǐ)
瞧不得
瞧得起 (qiáodeqǐ)
禁不得
禁得
禁得住
禁得起
站得住 (zhàndezhù)
累得慌
罩得住
美得冒泡
行不得
要得 (yàodé)
靠得住 (kàodezhù)
不捨得／不舍得 (bùshěde)
不曉得／不晓得
不爭得／不争得
不見得／不见得 (bùjiàndé)
不認得／不认得
乾落得／干落得
亂得慌／乱得慌
來得／来得 (láide)
來得及／来得及 (láidejí)
來得巧／来得巧
信得過／信得过 (xìndéguò)
兜得轉／兜得转
吃得來／吃得来 (chīdelái)
吃得開／吃得开
合得來／合得来 (hédelái)
天曉得／天晓得
對得起／对得起 (duìdeqǐ)
幹得了／干得了
幹得來／干得来
悶得慌／闷得慌
想得開／想得开 (xiǎngdekāi)

懶得／懒得 (lǎnde)
打得火熱／打得火热
捨不得／舍不得 (shěbude)
捨得／舍得 (shěde)
撐得住／撑得住
擱得住／搁得住
曉得／晓得 (xiǎode)
會得／会得 (huìde)
沉得住氣／沉得住气
沒得／没得
沒得主意／没得主意
沒得工夫／没得工夫
沒得空兒／没得空儿
沒得說的／没得说的
沒得養／没得养
玩得轉／玩得转
當不得／当不得
白得發亮／白得发亮
看得開／看得开
眼見得／眼见得 (yǎnjiànde)
稱得上／称得上 (chēngdeshàng)
稱得起／称得起
紅得發紫／红得发紫
虧得／亏得 (kuīde)
覺得／觉得 (juéde)
記得／记得 (jìde)
說不得／说不得
說得來／说得来 (shuōdelái)
說得著／说得著
說得過去／说得过去 (shuōdeguòqù)
說得響／说得响
諒得過／谅得过
走得開／走得开
趕得上／赶得上
趕得及／赶得及 (gǎndejí)
過得去／过得去 (guòdeqù)
過得著／过得著
還了得／还了得
顧得過來／顾得过来
顯得／显得 (xiǎnde)

Pronunciation 3

Mandarin
(Pinyin): děi (dei³)
(Zhuyin): ㄉㄟˇ
Cantonese (Jyutping): dak¹
Hakka (Meixian, Guangdong): dêd⁵
Min Nan (Teochew, Peng'im): dig⁴ / dêg⁴

Mandarin
- (Standard Chinese)⁺
  - Hanyu Pinyin: děi
  - Zhuyin: ㄉㄟˇ
  - Tongyong Pinyin: děi
  - Wade–Giles: tei³
  - Yale: děi
  - Gwoyeu Romatzyh: deei
  - Palladius: дэй (dɛj)
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /teɪ̯²¹⁴/
Cantonese
- (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
  - Jyutping: dak¹
  - Yale: dāk
  - Cantonese Pinyin: dak⁷
  - Guangdong Romanization: deg¹
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tɐk̚⁵/
Hakka
- (Meixian)
  - Guangdong: dêd⁵
  - Sinological IPA: /tɛt̚¹/
Min Nan
- (Teochew)
  - Peng'im: dig⁴ / dêg⁴
  - Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tik / tek
  - Sinological IPA ^(key): /tik̚²/, /tek̚²/

Note: dêg4 - Jieyang.

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? [Pinyin]
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! [Pinyin]
... 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. [Pinyin]
If we don't go back now, we won't be able to catch the last bus.
(dialectal Mandarin) nice; satisfying

Synonyms

(must):

edit

定著 (tiānn-tio̍h) (Min Nan)
必得 (bìděi)
非得 (fēiděi)

務必／务必 (wùbì)
務須／务须 (wùxū)

必須／必须 (bìxū)
著愛／著爱 (tio̍h-ài) (Min Nan)

Compounds

Derived terms from 得

便得
就得

必得 (bìděi)
非得 (fēiděi)

總得／总得 (zǒngděi)

References

Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A01291
“得”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–

Japanese

Kanji

得

(grade 4 “Kyōiku” kanji)

acquire

Readings

Go-on: とく (toku, Jōyō)
Kan-on: とく (toku, Jōyō)
Kun: える (eru, 得る, Jōyō); うる (uru, 得る, Jōyō)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
得
とく Grade: 5
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
徳

From Middle Chinese 得 (MC tək̚).

Alternative forms

(honorific) お得(とく) (o-toku)

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) とく [tòkú] (Heiban – [0])[1]
IPA^(key): [to̞kɯ̟ᵝ]

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
(please add an English translation of this example)

Inflection

Inflection of 得

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

Noun

得(とく) • (toku) ^{←とく (toku)^?}

beneficial; with gain
Antonym: 損 (son)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
得
う Grade: 5
kun’yomi

Verb

得(う) • (u) ^†nidan

Classical Japanese form of 得る (uru)

Conjugation

Classical conjugation of "得" (ア行下二段活用, see Appendix:Japanese verbs.)

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

2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 得 (MC tək̚).

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

Nom Foundation

[DJR-1] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

得

Translingual

Han character

Derived characters

Further reading

Chinese

Glyph origin

Etymology

Pronunciation 1

Definitions

Synonyms

Compounds

Pronunciation 2

Definitions

Usage notes

Compounds

Pronunciation 3

Definitions

Synonyms

Compounds

References

Japanese

Kanji

Readings

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Adjective

Inflection

Noun

Etymology 2

Verb

Conjugation

References

Korean

Etymology

Hanja

Derived terms

References

Vietnamese

Han character

References