In Chinese, 得 (děi) is commonly used to express necessity.
It usually means:
- have to
- need to
- must
It is especially common in everyday spoken Chinese.
1. The Basic Structure
Subject + 得 (děi) + Verb Phrase
我得走了。
I have to go.
你得多喝水。
You need to drink more water.
我们明天得早点儿出发。
We have to leave earlier tomorrow.
她今天得完成作业。
She has to finish her homework today.
💡 得 (děi) comes before the main verb or verb phrase.
2. When Do We Use 得 (děi)?
Use 得 (děi) when something is necessary because of a situation, responsibility, plan, or practical need.
下雨了，我得带伞。
It’s raining, so I need to take an umbrella.
明天有考试，我今晚得复习。
I have an exam tomorrow, so I have to study tonight.
我八点上课，七点半得出门。
My class starts at eight, so I need to leave home at seven thirty.
这个工作今天得做完。
This work has to be finished today.
In many everyday situations, have to or need to is a more natural English translation than must.
3. How to Ask a Question
The easiest question pattern is:
Subject + 得 + Verb Phrase + 吗？
我今天得去吗？
Do I have to go today?
我们明天得带书吗？
Do we need to bring our books tomorrow?
你周末也得工作吗？
Do you have to work on the weekend too?
You may also hear:
是不是得 + Verb Phrase？
我们是不是得早点儿走？
Do we need to leave a little earlier?
For beginners, 得……吗？ is the simplest pattern to remember.
4. How to Say “Don’t Have To”
The usual negative form of 得 (děi) is not 不得.
To express “don’t have to,” use:
不用 + Verb Phrase
你明天不用来。
You don’t have to come tomorrow.
今天没有作业，我们不用复习。
There is no homework today, so we don’t have to review.
不必 + Verb Phrase
不必 also means “do not need to,” but it sounds slightly more formal.
你不必担心。
You don’t need to worry.
你不必现在回答。
You don’t have to answer now.
不需要 + Verb Phrase
你不需要买票。
You don’t need to buy a ticket.
For everyday conversation, 不用 is usually the most natural choice.
5. Be Careful with 不得 (bùdé)
不得 (bùdé) does not normally mean “don’t have to.”
It usually expresses prohibition:
- must not
- may not
- be prohibited from
这里不得停车。
Parking is prohibited here.
考试的时候不得使用手机。
Mobile phones must not be used during the exam.
未经允许，不得进入。
Do not enter without permission.
Notice the difference:
你明天不用上班。
You don’t have to work tomorrow.
你明天不得上班。
You are not allowed to work tomorrow.
The second sentence is possible, but its meaning is completely different.
6. 得 (děi) vs. 要 (yào)
Both 得 and 要 can sometimes express necessity, but 要 has more possible meanings.
得 (děi)
得 clearly emphasizes that something is necessary.
我得走了。
I have to go.
要 (yào)
Depending on the context, 要 can mean:
-
want;
-
be going to;
-
need to;
-
should.
我要走了。
I’m going to leave. / I need to leave.
Therefore, 得 is often clearer when you specifically want to express “have to.”
7. 得 (děi) vs. 必须 (bìxū)
Both can express strong necessity, but their style is different.
得 (děi)
Common and natural in conversation:
我明天得早点儿起床。
I have to get up earlier tomorrow.
必须 (bìxū)
Stronger and more formal. It is often used in rules, instructions, or serious statements:
学生必须按时到校。
Students must arrive at school on time.
A simple way to remember:
👉 得 = everyday spoken necessity
👉 必须 = stronger or more formal necessity
8. One Character, Three Pronunciations
The character 得 has three common pronunciations.
得 (děi) — have to
我得学习。
I have to study.
得 (de) — a structural particle
他说得很好。
He speaks very well.
得 (dé) — to get or obtain
他得了第一名。
He won first place.
In this article, we are focusing on 得 (děi).
9. Common Mistakes
❌ Using 不得 for “don’t have to”
我明天不得上课。
This means that attending class is not allowed.
✅ Use 不用
我明天不用上课。
I don’t have to attend class tomorrow.
❌ Pronouncing 得 as de
我得走了。
Here, 得 is pronounced děi, because it means “have to.”
❌ Putting the modal 得 after the verb
我买得一些水果。 ✘
✅ Put 得 before the verb
我得买一些水果。
I need to buy some fruit.
Quick Review
To express “have to”:
Subject + 得 (děi) + Verb Phrase
我得回家了。
I have to go home.
To express “don’t have to”:
Subject + 不用 / 不必 / 不需要 + Verb Phrase
你不用等我。
You don’t have to wait for me.
To express prohibition:
不得 + Verb Phrase
这里不得吸烟。
Smoking is prohibited here.