得 děi: have to

得 before a verb is read děi and means “have to”, the spoken 必须. “Don't have to” isn't 不得 but 不用: 你不用来. Don't confuse it with de after a verb: 说得很好.

Examples

• 我得走了。 Wǒ děi zǒu le. I have to go.
• 我得打车回家。 Wǒ děi dǎchē huí jiā. I'll have to take a taxi home.
• 你不用来。 Nǐ búyòng lái. You don't need to come.

More in this chapter

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