得 Stroke Order — How to Write 得
得 is written in 11 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 彳, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
得 Radical and Character Components
得 is an ideographic compound. A hand 寸 grabbing a shell 旦.
Radical: 彳 + 8 more strokes
得 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- dé
- děi
- de
Meanings of 得 in Chinese
1
dé得
To obtain; to receive; to gain; to acquire.
我很高兴能得到你的帮助。
I am very happy to receive your help.
To be suitable or appropriate; fitting.
她穿着得体，给人的印象很好。
She is appropriately dressed, leaving a good impression.
To be pleased or satisfied with oneself.
他因为项目成功而感到十分得意。
He felt very pleased with himself because the project was successful.
To indicate completion or achievement, often in a colloquial context.
饭得了，快来吃吧。
The meal is ready, come and eat.
When pronounced 'dé', it indicates permission or possibility, often used in negative constructions to mean 'must not' or 'is not allowed'.
公共场所不得吸烟。
Smoking is not allowed in public places.
Used as an interjection to indicate that something should stop, or that enough has been said/done.
得了，别说了。
That's enough, stop talking.
2
děi得
Must; need to; have to.
你得赶紧走，不然会迟到。
You must leave quickly, otherwise you will be late.
To feel just right, comfortable, or completely satisfied; often implying 'that's all I need' or 'that would be perfect'.
忙了一天，能躺下休息一下就得了。
After a busy day, just being able to lie down and rest would be perfect.
3
de得
Used after a verb to indicate capability or possibility.
这个箱子他搬得动
He can move this box.
Used after a verb or adjective to connect a complement indicating effect or degree, showing how something is done or to what extent.
他写得一手好字。
He writes a good hand.
Common Words and Phrases with 得
1
when it's convenient
你得便的时候，帮我把这本书还了。
When you find a convenient opportunity, please return this book for me.
2
win the bid
经过激烈的竞争，我们公司最终成功得标，获得了这个大型建筑项目。
After intense competition, our company successfully won the bid and was awarded this large construction project.
3
to fall ill; to contract a disease; to get sick
他去年冬天不小心得了病，在家休息了好几天。
He accidentally got sick last winter and rested at home for several days.
4
The loss outweighs the gain.
过度节食虽然能快速减肥，但损害了健康，长远来看是得不偿失的。
Although extreme dieting can lead to rapid weight loss, it harms one's health, which is a case of the loss outweighing the gain in the long run.
5
To win or make a profit, often in gambling or business.
这次投资眼光独到，真是得采了，利润比预期高出一大截。
This investment showed unique foresight, truly paying off handsomely, with profits far exceeding expectations.
6
To succeed in a scheme or achieve an undesirable goal.
小猫企图跳上桌子偷鱼，但最终没有得逞
The kitten attempted to jump onto the table to steal the fish, but ultimately did not succeed.
7
To be favored; to be in someone's good graces.
自从她展示了出色的项目管理能力，在老板面前就变得很得宠了
Since she demonstrated excellent project management skills, she has become very favored by the boss.
8
To reach, obtain, or arrive at a conclusion, result, or understanding through reasoning, calculation, or effort.
经过仔细分析，我们得出了一个合理的结论
After careful analysis, we reached a reasonable conclusion.
9
Appropriate and suitable; properly done or arranged.
这次会议的组织安排非常得当，确保了讨论的顺利进行。
The organization and arrangements for this meeting were very appropriate, ensuring the smooth progress of the discussions.
10
11
To gain the Way or popular support for a just cause; also, to achieve enlightenment or spiritual attainment in Taoism or Buddhism.
一个心地善良的人，总能因其言行正直而得道多助
A person of good conscience will always find support because their words and deeds are in accordance with justice.
12
A just cause enjoys abundant support.
只要我们坚持公平公正，相信得道多助，这项计划一定能顺利实施。
As long as we adhere to fairness and justice, believing that a just cause will attract much help, this plan is sure to be implemented smoothly.
13
in the proper way; to find the knack
她反复练习，很快就得法了，画出的线条流畅而富有表现力。
After repeated practice, she quickly got the hang of it, and the lines she drew became fluid and expressive.
14
15
To muddle along, letting things drift without much effort, long-term planning, or a strong sense of responsibility.
他对待学习总是得过且过，从不制定长远计划。
He always muddled through his studies, never making long-term plans.
More words with 得
- luò落dé得To end up with; to result in.
- nán难dé得Rare; hard to come by or achieve.
- yíng赢dé得To win or gain something.
- duó夺dé得acquire; obtain; capture
- miǎn免de得so as not to; so as to avoid
- zhǐ只dé得have to, can only
- bì必děi得must; have to
- bó博dé得to win or gain
- fēi非děi得must, have to
- gòu购de得purchased, bought
- jiàn见de得Evidently, Apparently
- jìng净de得net gain; net income
- lái来de得timely, possible
- rèn认de得Recognize, Know
- suǒ所de得gain, earning, or income
- xiǎo晓de得to know; to understand
- yào要de得Okay, Alright
- zǒng总děi得must; have to; be bound to
- hèn恨bu不de得to wish one could, to be dying to
- huò获dé得Obtain, Gain
Idioms with 得
- dé得bù不chóu酬shī失gains do not compensate for losses
- dé得bù步jìn进bù步never satisfied, always wanting more
- dé得cùn寸jìn进chǐ尺insatiably greedy
- dé得lǒng陇wàng望shǔ蜀insatiably greedy
- dé得qí其suǒ所zāi哉To find one's proper place
- dé得shèng胜huí回cháo朝return triumphantly
- dé得shī失chéng成bài败gains and losses, successes and failures
- dé得tiān天dú独hòu厚uniquely blessed by nature
- dé得xīn心yìng应shǒu手skillful and smooth in execution
- dé得yī一wàng望shí十insatiably greedy and never satisfied
- dé得yì意mén门shēng生favorite student
- dé得yì意wàng忘xíng形carried away by success or joy
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Open the tool →Questions about 得
What does 得 mean in Chinese?
得 (dé) means “To obtain” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 得?
得 has 3 pronunciations: dé, děi, de.
How many strokes does 得 have?
得 has 11 strokes.
How do you write 得?
得 is written in 11 strokes, starting from the radical 彳. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 得?
The radical of 得 is 彳, and 得 is an ideographic compound.