谁的

Learning Chinese: How to Say "Whose" in Chinese

Chinese Characters: 谁的
Pinyin: shuí de
Pronunciation: shuéi4 de5
English Translation: Whose

Usage:

"谁的 (shuí de)" is used to ask or indicate possession of something. It can be used with both animate and inanimate objects.

Example:

Chinese: 这是谁的书？
Pinyin: Zhè shì shuí de shū?
English: Whose book is this?
Grammar:

"谁的 (shuí de)" is placed before the noun that you are asking about.

Example:

Chinese: 谁的书包？
Pinyin: Shuí de shūbāo?
English: Whose backpack?
Variations:

There are a few variations of "谁的 (shuí de)" that you may hear:

哪位 (nǎ wèi): A more formal way to say "whose," used to refer to people.
哪一个 (nǎ yí ge): A more specific way to say "whose," used to refer to specific objects.
Example:

Chinese: 哪位同学的书？
Pinyin: Nǎ wèi tóngxué de shū?
English: Whose book is this (student's)?
Tips for Learning:

Practice saying "谁的 (shuí de)" out loud to improve your pronunciation.
Listen to native Chinese speakers asking or indicating possession to get a sense of the natural rhythm and intonation.
Use "谁的 (shuí de)" in your daily conversations to practice using it in context.
Additional Notes:

"谁的 (shuí de)" can also be used to ask about the owner of something.

Example:

Chinese: 这辆车是谁的？
Pinyin: Zhè liàng chē shì shuí de?
English: Whose car is this?
In some cases, "谁的 (shuí de)" can be omitted when the context is clear.

Example:

Chinese: 我的书呢？
Pinyin: Wǒ de shū ne?
English: Where is my book? (literally: My book where?)