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白的
bái de
white
这块布是白的。
This cloth is white.
neutral
Having the color of milk or fresh snow; of the color white.
墙是白的。
The wall is white.
她穿了一件白的衬衫。
She wore a white shirt.
Used to describe objects with a white color. Often appears in descriptive contexts or as an attributive adjective.
Pro Tip
When to use '白的' vs. '白色的'
Use '白的' in casual speech or when the color is the main focus (e.g., '这块布是白的'). Use '白色的' in formal writing or when describing objects with additional attributes (e.g., '白色的衬衫' for 'white shirt').
Gold Rule
Adjective + 的 structure
In Chinese, adding '的' to an adjective turns it into a noun or attributive adjective. For example, '好' (good) + '的' = '好的' (the good one / good ones). This structure is common in spoken Chinese.
Word Origin
The word '白的' consists of the adjective '白' (white) and the structural particle '的', which is used to nominalize adjectives in Chinese. The combination functions as a noun or attributive adjective describing something white.
Usage Notes
In modern Chinese, '白的' is less commonly used than '白色的' (white) in formal writing. '白的' is more frequently heard in spoken Mandarin, especially in northern dialects. When used attributively (e.g., '白的衣服'), it functions similarly to '白色的衣服' but is slightly more colloquial.
Word Breakdown
白
white
root的
structural particle (used to nominalize adjectives)
suffix汉英词典