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得到 (dé dào) — to get, to obtain, to receive

Definition

Most common everyday word for 'to get/obtain' — concrete things, results, or opportunities. Use 收到 specifically for receiving a message or package; 获得 and 取得 are more formal/written (e.g., awards, achievements).

verb
to getto obtainto receive

Examples

  • 得到。
    Wǒ zuó tiān dé dào le yí gè lǐ wù.
    I received a gift yesterday.
  • 得到。
    Tā dé dào le yí gè hǎo jī huì.
    He got a good opportunity.
  • 得到？
    Nǐ dé dào le shén me chéng jì?
    What grade did you get?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

得déobtain
到dàoreach/result

'得' obtain, '到' reaching; together they mean successfully getting.

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.

Open 得 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →
Appears in
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