得了 (dé le) — (verb phrase) that's enough; all right (used to stop someone from continuing); (particle) used to express resignation or impatience (like 'forget it')

Definition

得了 (dé le) is a set phrase used to stop someone or brush something off — usually a casual, slightly impatient 'that's enough' or 'forget it.' Stronger than 行 ('OK/fine') in tone, and unlike 而已 it appears at the start of a sentence, not the end.

verb
(verb phrase) that's enoughall right (used to stop someone from continuing)
particle
used to express resignation or impatience (like 'forget it')

Examples

  • 得了，。
    dé le, Bié zài shuō le.
    That's enough, don't say anymore.
  • 得了，。
    dé le, Wǒ bú qù le.
    Forget it, I'm not going.
  • 得了，。
    dé le, Bié zài bào yuàn le.
    That's enough, don't complain anymore.

Origin

Characters in this word

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.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

了 was once drawn to show a baby with no arms; some old comments say it showed crossed or tangled legs.

Open 了 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 65000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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