<p>Here, 真的 is being used as a word (an adverb).  When 真的 is used as an adverb, the 的 in 真的 is not interpreted as the particle 的, it's a character in the word 真的, such as in <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/22876/8099">this answer</a> (another example is <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/19376/8099">似的</a>).</p>
<p>We generally don't add a 地 after an adverb; it would be redundant (it's inherently an adverb, so we don't need to indicate it again via 地).  So this is not only the case for 真的, but also the case for many other adverbs like 已经 = &quot;already&quot;, 有所 = &quot;somewhat&quot;, 经常 = &quot;frequently&quot;, 终于 = &quot;finally&quot;, etc.  If we look the word up in a Chinese-Chinese dictionary, these words are categorized as 「副」 or 副词 (adverb).  So we wouldn't write 真的地.</p>
<p>In the special case of 真的, 真 also happens to be a word; it can function as an adverb (my dictionary gives the definition 「副」 确实；实在) in addition to other parts of speech, so if we're using 真 as an adverb, we'd ordinarily omit the 地, i.e., we wouldn't write 真地 either.</p>
<p>We ordinarily add 地 to highlight that we're using a non-adverb (typically an adjective, but also verbs and even whole phrases) as an adverb:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs, and can be thought of as equivalent to the suffix -ly in English.<br />
<sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Structural_particle_%22de%22#.E5.9C.B0_.28de.29_Before_Verbs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Chinese Grammar Wiki</a></sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他紧张<strong>地</strong>站着。  (紧张 is an adjective, but we're using it as an adverb =&gt; add a 地.)<br />
他半信半疑<strong>地</strong>点点头。  (半信半疑 is a set phrase, and since we're using it as an adverb =&gt; add a 地.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There are cases where a 地 can be either added or omitted, such as 反复 = &quot;repeatedly&quot;:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他反复<strong>地</strong>说……。<br />
我反复提醒过他。</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I think this is because 反复 has multiple definitions, one of which is an adverb (so it's okay to omit the 地), but we might add a 地 to disambiguate.  (Also, I think it's affected by rhythm---whether or not the sentence sounds better with/without the 地.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-25T12:51:41.257Z
I think you may have misunderstood my question: I am not suggesting that “真的地” would be natural, but rather "真地“. "地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs", and 真 is an adjective. It would follow that the adverbial form real*ly* should be 真地 as opposed to 真的. Why isn't it?
Buddy L
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-24T22:57:06.147Z
2022-11-25T22:21:21.647Z
2022-11-25T22:21:21.647Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>Simple rules for 的 and 地:</p>
<p><strong>的</strong> proceeds and modifies a noun or pronoun, such as &quot;真的<strong>東西</strong> - a real <strong>thing</strong>&quot;. Note that 真的 acts as an adjective.</p>
<p><strong>地</strong> proceeds and modifies a verb, such as &quot;快快地<strong>跑</strong> - speedily <strong>run</strong>&quot;.快快地 acts as an adverb.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-24T19:04:01.630Z
2022-11-24T19:04:01.630Z
r13
<ol>
<li>地 turns an adjective into an adverb: I run quickly = 我快地跑</li>
<li>的 turns an adjective into a noun-phrase: the quick one = 快的</li>
</ol>
<p>(2) holds true for the adjective 真：&quot;哪张照片是真的?&quot; = Which photo is the <em>real one</em>?&quot;
However (1) does not hold true for 真，because we would say &quot;我真的在听你” rather than &quot;我真<em>地</em>在听你&quot;.</p>
<p>What's going on? Is 真的 as a noun-phrase used so frequently that it has been frozen in this form? Are there other examples of the same thing happening with other adjectives?</p>

<grammar><adjectives><adverbs>
Why doesn't 真的, when used as an adverb, use 地？
# Why doesn't 真的, when used as an adverb, use 地？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-11-24)

1. 地 turns an adjective into an adverb: I run quickly = 我快地跑
2. 的 turns an adjective into a noun-phrase: the quick one = 快的

(2) holds true for the adjective 真："哪张照片是真的?" = Which photo is the *real one*?"
However (1) does not hold true for 真，because we would say "我真的在听你” rather than "我真*地*在听你".

What's going on? Is 真的 as a noun-phrase used so frequently that it has been frozen in this form? Are there other examples of the same thing happening with other adjectives?

**Tags:** grammar, adjectives, adverbs


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-11-24. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Here, 真的 is being used as a word (an adverb). When 真的 is used as an adverb, the 的 in 真的 is not interpreted as the particle 的, it's a character in the word 真的, such as in [this answer](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/a/22876/8099) (another example is [似的](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/19376/8099)).

We generally don't add a 地 after an adverb; it would be redundant (it's inherently an adverb, so we don't need to indicate it again via 地). So this is not only the case for 真的, but also the case for many other adverbs like 已经 = "already", 有所 = "somewhat", 经常 = "frequently", 终于 = "finally", etc. If we look the word up in a Chinese-Chinese dictionary, these words are categorized as 「副」 or 副词 (adverb). So we wouldn't write 真的地.

In the special case of 真的, 真 also happens to be a word; it can function as an adverb (my dictionary gives the definition 「副」 确实；实在) in addition to other parts of speech, so if we're using 真 as an adverb, we'd ordinarily omit the 地, i.e., we wouldn't write 真地 either.

We ordinarily add 地 to highlight that we're using a non-adverb (typically an adjective, but also verbs and even whole phrases) as an adverb:

> 地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs, and can be thought of as equivalent to the suffix -ly in English.  
> [Chinese Grammar Wiki](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Structural_particle_%22de%22#.E5.9C.B0_.28de.29_Before_Verbs)

For example:

> 他紧张**地**站着。 (紧张 is an adjective, but we're using it as an adverb => add a 地.)  
> 他半信半疑**地**点点头。 (半信半疑 is a set phrase, and since we're using it as an adverb => add a 地.)

There are cases where a 地 can be either added or omitted, such as 反复 = "repeatedly":

> 他反复**地**说……。  
> 我反复提醒过他。

I think this is because 反复 has multiple definitions, one of which is an adverb (so it's okay to omit the 地), but we might add a 地 to disambiguate. (Also, I think it's affected by rhythm---whether or not the sentence sounds better with/without the 地.)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think you may have misunderstood my question: I am not suggesting that “真的地” would be natural, but rather "真地“. "地 (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs", and 真 is an adjective. It would follow that the adverbial form real*ly* should be 真地 as opposed to 真的. Why isn't it?  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2022-11-24. Score: 1

Simple rules for 的 and 地:

**的** proceeds and modifies a noun or pronoun, such as "真的**東西** - a real **thing**". Note that 真的 acts as an adjective.

**地** proceeds and modifies a verb, such as "快快地**跑** - speedily **run**".快快地 acts as an adverb.


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