得 (děi): obligation must
得 (děi) is a spoken modal verb meaning have to, where the need comes from the situation rather than from a rule. Its usual negative is 不用 (no need to), as in 我得走了 versus 你不用走。
> 我得走了。(I have to leave now.)
Key contrasts:
- 要 = want to / will / should (weaker or desire-based)
- 必须 = must (stronger, rule-based)
- 得 (děi) = have to (circumstance-based, colloquial)
Position: Subject + 得 + Verb phrase
Negation: 不用 or 不需要 (not 不得 — that means cannot reach / unacceptable).
❌ 我不得走。 ✅ 我不用走。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明天有考试，我今晚得好好复习。 | Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì, wǒ jīn wǎn děi hǎohǎo fùxí. | There's an exam tomorrow — I have to review thoroughly tonight. | 得 expressing obligation driven by external circumstance |
| 这件事你得自己解决，我帮不了你。 | Zhè jiàn shì nǐ děi zìjǐ jiějué, wǒ bāng bù liǎo nǐ. | You have to handle this yourself — I can't help you. | 得 marking personal obligation; 帮不了 = resultative cannot |
| 要赶上火车，我们得马上出发才行。 | Yào gǎnshàng huǒchē, wǒmen děi mǎshàng chūfā cái xíng. | To catch the train, we have to leave right now. | 才行 reinforces the necessity established by 得 |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
得 (děi)
A spoken modal meaning "have to"; the need comes from the situation.
Structure: subject + 得 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 天气太冷了，出门得多穿点儿。 | Tiān qì tài lěng le, chū mén děi duō chuān diǎnr. | It is so cold that you have to wear more when you go out. |
| 你的感冒还没好，得去看医生。 | Nǐ de gǎn mào hái méi hǎo, děi qù kàn yī shēng. | Your cold is not better yet, you have to see a doctor. |
| 孩子哭了，我得去看看。 | Hái zi kū le, wǒ děi qù kàn kan. | The child is crying, I have to go and see. |
Not: 我不得去。 The negative of 得 is 不用 or 不必. 不得 means "must not".
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 2, particles (结构助词); level 3, verbs (能愿动词).
得 is also explained in: Degree Complements: 动词+得+形容词 (runs fast, plays happily) (HSK 2) · Structural Particle 得: State Complement (HSK 2) · Extended Comparison Patterns: A比B V得Adj (HSK 3) · Potential Complements: V+得/不+V/Adj (HSK 3) · Degree complement: V得+predicate (HSK 4) · Potential complements: V得/不C (HSK 4) · Degree & State Complements: 不得了、坏了、得+phrase (HSK 5) · Potential Complements: V+得/不得 (HSK 5).
不用 (bùyòng)
Says there is no need to; it is the usual negative of 得.
Structure: subject + 不用 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你不用来接我，我自己打车。 | Nǐ bú yòng lái jiē wǒ, wǒ zì jǐ dǎ chē. | You do not need to pick me up, I will take a taxi. |
| 作业不用今天交，明天也可以。 | Zuò yè bú yòng jīn tiān jiāo, míng tiān yě kě yǐ. | The homework need not be handed in today, tomorrow is fine. |
| 这件小事不用担心。 | Zhè jiàn xiǎo shì bú yòng dān xīn. | You do not need to worry about this small matter. |
Not: 你不用得来。 Do not stack 得 and 不用. Say 你不用来.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (否定副词).
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list 得 (děi) among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about 得 (děi)
What does 得（děi）表义务 (得 (děi)) mean in Chinese?
得 (děi) is a spoken modal verb meaning have to, where the need comes from the situation rather than from a rule. Its usual negative is 不用 (no need to), as in 我得走了 versus 你不用走。. It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 得（děi）表义务 (得 (děi)) in a sentence?
明天有考试，我今晚得好好复习。 — Míngtiān yǒu kǎoshì, wǒ jīn wǎn děi hǎohǎo fùxí. — There's an exam tomorrow — I have to review thoroughly tonight. 得 expressing obligation driven by external circumstance.
What do you need to know before 得（děi）表义务 (得 (děi))?
Modal Verbs (HSK 3). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 得（děi）表义务 (得 (děi)) lead to?
非…不可 (HSK 4). Each of them names 得（děi）表义务 (得 (děi)) among its own prerequisites.
How do I say "do not have to" with 得?
Use 不用 or 不必, not 不得. 我得去 means I have to go. 我不用去 means I do not have to go. 我不得去 means I am not allowed to go.
Is 得 (děi) different from 必须?
必须 is stronger and sounds like a rule: 必须带护照. 得 is how people talk in daily life: 我得带护照. 得 is also never used for the negative.
得 (děi) is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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