<p>the first one describe your chinese and the second one describe how you speak chinese.</p>

<p>The Chinese that I speak is fluent.</p>

<p>I speak Chinese fluently.</p>

<p>(他说的汉语)很流利。
他 (说汉语说) 得很流利</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-16T05:47:21.867Z
Thank you for your answer. But I don't understand completely. Please see my edited question, I have added some sentences if you can explain those. Thank you very much.
zaloniii
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-15T19:44:03.480Z
2016-07-15T23:19:18.193Z
2016-07-15T23:19:18.193Z
Christophe Debove
<p>Both in 你小的不能再小了 and 我不知道我做的对不对, the 的 should have been 得. 不能再小 and 对不对 are <em>情态补语(modal complement)</em>, and should be used after 得. </p>

<p>Figure 1. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiandai_Hanyu_Cidian" rel="nofollow noreferrer">现代汉语词典，第6版</a>(Contemporary Chinese Dictrionary, 6th Edition), page 272.
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/lgMkK.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/lgMkK.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>③ Used after a verb or adjective, followed by a complement indicating the result or degree of the verb/adjective: 写(write) 得 非常(very) 好(good). 天气(weather) 热(hot) 得 很(very).</p>

<p>Figure 2. <a href="https://book.douban.com/subject/1091176/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">实用现代汉语语法</a>(Practical Contemporay Chinese Grammar), page 597
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ldriy.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ldriy.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
Exmaples from top to bottom:</p>

<ol>
<li>①睡(sleep) 得 很(very) 晚(late)</li>
<li>②打(play) 得 很(very) 好(good)</li>
<li>③学(learn) 得 好(good)</li>
<li>④唱(sing) 得 好(good)</li>
<li>⑤睡(sleep) 得 香(sound)</li>
<li>⑥说(say) 得 非常(very) 对(right)</li>
<li>①回答(answer) 得 对不对(right or not)？</li>
<li>②唱(sing) 得 好(good) 吗？</li>
<li>③起(get up) 得 是不是(whether or not) 很(very) 晚(late)？</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-16T08:47:51.863Z
2016-07-16T08:47:51.863Z
ltux
<p>的 generally expresses possession or modification and 得 is used after a verb or an adjective to express possibility or capability.</p>

<p>Here are some literal translations that should help to differentiate between the two examples that you listed:</p>

<pre><code>他说的汉语很流利。 
[他说的汉语][很流利]。
[The Chinese that he speaks][(is) fluent].

他说汉语说得很流利。
[他][说汉语][说得][很流利]。
[He][speak Chinese][speaks][fluently].
</code></pre>

<p>In general, that which comes <em>before</em> the 的 modifies what comes <em>after</em> it:</p>

<pre><code>他穿的衣服很时髦。
[他穿的衣服][很时髦]。
[The clothes that he wears][(is) fashionable].
</code></pre>

<p>The 的 ends up forming a complex subject:</p>

<pre><code>他说的汉语
The Chinese (that he speaks)
“他说” modifies "汉语". 
Which Chinese? The Chinese that he speaks.

他穿的衣服
The clothes (that he wears)
"他穿" modifies "衣服".
Which clothes? The clothes that he wears.

红色的书
The (red) book
"红色" modifies "书".
Which book? The book that is red.
</code></pre>

<p>得 is generally used in the following pattern to describe the degree to which something is done: <code>[Subject][Verb-Object][Verb 得][Adverb]</code>.</p>

<pre><code>她看书看得很快。
[她][看书][看得][很快]。
[She][read books][reads][quickly].
[Subject][Verb-Object][Verb 得][Adverb]
</code></pre>

<hr>

<p>With the dialogue that you provided, the "的" should actually be "得". It seems to just be a typo.</p>

<pre><code>Lily 说：“我小吗？”
Lily: "Am I small?"

Monster 说：“小？ 你？ 你小的不能再小了。你非常小。”
Monster: "Small? You? You're so small that you can't get any smaller. You're very small."
</code></pre>

<hr>

<p>With the third example, 得 should not be used. 的 is correct here, but it can be confusing because there is an implied/omitted noun. The thing being modified isn't said explicitly and all that is said is the modifier.</p>

<pre><code>我不知道我做的对不对。
[我][不知道][我做的][对不对]。
[I][don't know][(that which) I did][is/is not right].
I don't know if what I did was right.
</code></pre>

<p>Here is another example dialogue:</p>

<pre><code>A: 我要买书。
A: I want to buy books.

B: 新的还是二手的？
B: New (books) or used (books)?

A: 新的。
A: New (books).
</code></pre>

<p>Notice how "书 / books" is not repeated. Once the object is clearly in context, both speakers drop it for convenience and brevity. Natural human speech tends to be like this. It would seem quite odd to say everything explicitly since once something is in context, repeating it can seem unnecessarily redundant.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-16T08:15:00.047Z
Thank you very much. :) I couldn't have received a better answer. Thank you for explaining it to me so well. I had been struggling with this since quite some time. :)
zaloniii
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-17T08:34:08.550Z
So 得+adjective = adverb similar to adjective+ly = adverb in English? E.g. 快 = quick，得快 = quickly？
Roman Reiner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-21T02:35:09.737Z
@zaloniii You're very welcome!
rramphal
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-21T02:40:14.870Z
@RomanReiner You can think of it like that if it helps, but just be aware that you can put qualifiers in between 得 and the adjective. For example: 她看书看得非常快。In general, I think that 地 is more of the "-ly" adverb marker: 她很快地看书。
rramphal
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-16T07:59:45.873Z
2016-07-21T02:34:15.247Z
2016-07-21T02:34:15.247Z
rramphal
<p>I know how they are used, but I don't understand how they differ in meaning in sentences like these. Eg. </p>

<p>他说的汉语很流利。
他说汉语说得很流利。 </p>

<p>Kindly explain using examples if possible. </p>

<p>Added further:</p>

<p>Also, I came across this a very long time ago and had even asked a Chinese native friend why 的 is used here because it denotes possession. But she couldn't explain me very well. I feel my question is somehow related to this. </p>

<p>Lily 说：“我小吗？”</p>

<p>monster 说：“小？ 你？ 你小的不能再小了。你非常小。” </p>

<p>Another one of such kind is: </p>

<p>我不知道我做的对不对。</p>

<p>Now here, should this 得 be used? It's very confusing and I often come across such sentences with this 的 and I fail to understand why it's being used there. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-16T05:45:47.800Z
I understand their meaning. Thank you. but my question isn't this. Please see the edited question.
zaloniii
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-21T05:59:33.240Z
The 的 and 得 (and 地) are not strictly distinguished in casual writing (like chat) now. But they are distinguished in formal writing.
fefe
<grammar><difference>
What's the difference between this 的and this 得 when it comes to meaning in the following sentences
# What's the difference between this 的and this 得 when it comes to meaning in the following sentences

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-15)

I know how they are used, but I don't understand how they differ in meaning in sentences like these. Eg.

他说的汉语很流利。
他说汉语说得很流利。

Kindly explain using examples if possible.

Added further:

Also, I came across this a very long time ago and had even asked a Chinese native friend why 的 is used here because it denotes possession. But she couldn't explain me very well. I feel my question is somehow related to this.

Lily 说：“我小吗？”

monster 说：“小？ 你？ 你小的不能再小了。你非常小。”

Another one of such kind is:

我不知道我做的对不对。

Now here, should this 得 be used? It's very confusing and I often come across such sentences with this 的 and I fail to understand why it's being used there.

**Tags:** grammar, difference

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I understand their meaning. Thank you. but my question isn't this. Please see the edited question.  
> **username_1**: The 的 and 得 (and 地) are not strictly distinguished in casual writing (like chat) now. But they are distinguished in formal writing.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-07-16. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

的 generally expresses possession or modification and 得 is used after a verb or an adjective to express possibility or capability.

Here are some literal translations that should help to differentiate between the two examples that you listed:

```
他说的汉语很流利。 
[他说的汉语][很流利]。
[The Chinese that he speaks][(is) fluent].

他说汉语说得很流利。
[他][说汉语][说得][很流利]。
[He][speak Chinese][speaks][fluently].

```

In general, that which comes *before* the 的 modifies what comes *after* it:

```
他穿的衣服很时髦。
[他穿的衣服][很时髦]。
[The clothes that he wears][(is) fashionable].

```

The 的 ends up forming a complex subject:

```
他说的汉语
The Chinese (that he speaks)
“他说” modifies "汉语". 
Which Chinese? The Chinese that he speaks.

他穿的衣服
The clothes (that he wears)
"他穿" modifies "衣服".
Which clothes? The clothes that he wears.

红色的书
The (red) book
"红色" modifies "书".
Which book? The book that is red.

```

得 is generally used in the following pattern to describe the degree to which something is done: `[Subject][Verb-Object][Verb 得][Adverb]`.

```
她看书看得很快。
[她][看书][看得][很快]。
[She][read books][reads][quickly].
[Subject][Verb-Object][Verb 得][Adverb]

```

---

With the dialogue that you provided, the "的" should actually be "得". It seems to just be a typo.

```
Lily 说：“我小吗？”
Lily: "Am I small?"

Monster 说：“小？ 你？ 你小的不能再小了。你非常小。”
Monster: "Small? You? You're so small that you can't get any smaller. You're very small."

```

---

With the third example, 得 should not be used. 的 is correct here, but it can be confusing because there is an implied/omitted noun. The thing being modified isn't said explicitly and all that is said is the modifier.

```
我不知道我做的对不对。
[我][不知道][我做的][对不对]。
[I][don't know][(that which) I did][is/is not right].
I don't know if what I did was right.

```

Here is another example dialogue:

```
A: 我要买书。
A: I want to buy books.

B: 新的还是二手的？
B: New (books) or used (books)?

A: 新的。
A: New (books).

```

Notice how "书 / books" is not repeated. Once the object is clearly in context, both speakers drop it for convenience and brevity. Natural human speech tends to be like this. It would seem quite odd to say everything explicitly since once something is in context, repeating it can seem unnecessarily redundant.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you very much. :) I couldn't have received a better answer. Thank you for explaining it to me so well. I had been struggling with this since quite some time. :)  
> **username_5**: So 得+adjective = adverb similar to adjective+ly = adverb in English? E.g. 快 = quick，得快 = quickly？  
> **username_4**: @username_0 You're very welcome!  
> **username_4**: @username_5 You can think of it like that if it helps, but just be aware that you can put qualifiers in between 得 and the adjective. For example: 她看书看得非常快。In general, I think that 地 is more of the "-ly" adverb marker: 她很快地看书。  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-07-15. Score: 0

the first one describe your chinese and the second one describe how you speak chinese.

The Chinese that I speak is fluent.

I speak Chinese fluently.

(他说的汉语)很流利。
他 (说汉语说) 得很流利

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thank you for your answer. But I don't understand completely. Please see my edited question, I have added some sentences if you can explain those. Thank you very much.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-16. Score: 0

Both in 你小的不能再小了 and 我不知道我做的对不对, the 的 should have been 得. 不能再小 and 对不对 are *情态补语(modal complement)*, and should be used after 得.

Figure 1. [现代汉语词典，第6版](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiandai_Hanyu_Cidian)(Contemporary Chinese Dictrionary, 6th Edition), page 272.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/lgMkK.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/lgMkK.png)

③ Used after a verb or adjective, followed by a complement indicating the result or degree of the verb/adjective: 写(write) 得 非常(very) 好(good). 天气(weather) 热(hot) 得 很(very).

Figure 2. [实用现代汉语语法](https://book.douban.com/subject/1091176/)(Practical Contemporay Chinese Grammar), page 597
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ldriy.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ldriy.png)
Exmaples from top to bottom:

1. ①睡(sleep) 得 很(very) 晚(late)
2. ②打(play) 得 很(very) 好(good)
3. ③学(learn) 得 好(good)
4. ④唱(sing) 得 好(good)
5. ⑤睡(sleep) 得 香(sound)
6. ⑥说(say) 得 非常(very) 对(right)
7. ①回答(answer) 得 对不对(right or not)？
8. ②唱(sing) 得 好(good) 吗？
9. ③起(get up) 得 是不是(whether or not) 很(very) 晚(late)？


---

