谁的 (shéide) translates to 'whose' in English, used to ask about ownership or possession. It is commonly used in questions to inquire about the owner of an object or a person, making it a fundamental structure in Mandarin for expressing relationships.
HSK 1, 16 strokes, Hard
shéide(shei2de5) T2
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May 27, 2026
谁的shéide(shei2de5)
谁的 (shéide) translates to 'whose' in English, used to ask about ownership or possession. It is commonly used in questions to inquire about the owner of an object or a person, making it a fundamental structure in Mandarin for expressing relationships.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, asking about ownership can indicate respect for personal space and belongings, which is important in social interactions. Understanding this phrase helps navigate conversations in various contexts, such as school or family gatherings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a curious child pointing at a toy and asking, 'Who’s this?' The character 谁 (shéi) looks like a person with a questioning expression, while 的 (de) can be visualized as a possessive tag, linking the person to their toy. Together, they create the question of ownership.
About 谁的
谁的Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 谁的
Podcast: 谁的
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AI Study Notes for 谁的
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a curious child pointing at a toy and asking, 'Who’s this?' The character 谁 (shéi) looks like a person with a questioning expression, while 的 (de) can be visualized as a possessive tag, linking the person to their toy. Together, they create the question of ownership.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 谁的 with other question words like 什么 (shénme, 'what') or 哪里 (nǎlǐ, 'where'). This phrase is informal and can be used in everyday conversations. Common collocations include phrases like 谁的书 (shéide shū, 'whose book?').
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 1 word, focus on recognizing and using 谁的 in simple sentences. It connects to other basic question words and possessives, helping students form questions about belongings, which is essential for daily interactions.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, asking about ownership can indicate respect for personal space and belongings, which is important in social interactions. Understanding this phrase helps navigate conversations in various contexts, such as school or family gatherings.
Common Mistakes
Learners often incorrectly assume 谁的 (shéide) can stand alone without a noun, leading to sentences like '谁的?' without context. Always include the noun, such as '谁的书?' for clarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 谁的
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Cultural Notes for 谁的
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, asking about ownership can indicate respect for personal space and belongings, which is important in social interactions. Understanding this phrase helps navigate conversations in various contexts, such as school or family gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions about 谁的
You can use it to ask questions like '这是谁的书?' which means 'Whose book is this?'. Simply place it before the noun.
谁的 is informal and commonly used in everyday conversation.
Yes, it can refer to objects as well, such as '谁的手机?' meaning 'Whose phone?'
