Level 1 · Beginner
Describing nouns with 的: 我昨天买的书
Verb phrase + 的 + Noun
English puts the description after the noun: "the book (that) I bought yesterday". Chinese puts it in front and glues it on with 的: 我昨天买的书. Whatever comes before 的 describes whatever comes after it — it's the same 的 as in 我的书, just with a bigger chunk in front.
To read a long one, find 的 and look right: 妈妈做的菜 — which dish? The one Mom makes. When the noun is obvious you can even drop it: 这是我买的 "this is the one I bought".
Examples
这是我昨天买的书。
這是我昨天買的書。
zhè shì wǒ zuó tiān mǎi de shū
This is the book I bought yesterday.
妈妈做的菜很好吃。
媽媽做的菜很好吃。
mā ma zuò de cài hěn hǎo chī
The food Mom makes is delicious.
你穿的衣服很好看。
nǐ chuān de yī fu hěn hǎo kàn
The clothes you're wearing look great.
那个看书的人是我哥哥。
那個看書的人是我哥哥。
nà ge kàn shū de rén shì wǒ gē ge
The person reading is my older brother.
Common mistakes
✗ 这是书我昨天买的。
✓ 这是我昨天买的书。
The description goes before the noun — never after it like English "the book that…".
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: Back to Dad's City (Part 1) — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
