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得 (dé) — to obtain, to get

Definition

As a standalone verb, 得 means 'to obtain / to get' something (an opportunity, a result). 获得 and 取得 are more formal/written for the same idea; 得到 is the everyday near-synonym.

verb
to obtainto get
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ dé le yí gè hǎo jī huì.
    I got a good opportunity.
  • 。
    Tā dé dào le hěn duō zhī shi.
    He gained a lot of knowledge.
  • ？
    Nǐ dé dào piào le ma?
    Did you get the ticket?

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Appears in
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