Comprehensive Guide to Nouns Ending With 的 de
Basic Words
男的 nánde – guy
女的 nǚde – girl
吃的 chīde – things to eat
喝的 hēde – things to drink
玩的 wánde – places to have fun; fun things to do
公的 gōngde – male (animal)
母的 mǔde – female (animal)
亲爱的 qīn’àide – darling; honey; dear
相好的 xiānghǎode – boyfriend/girlfriend; partner
荤的 hūnde – meat dish
素的 sùde – vegetarian dish
People On The Street
过路的 guòlùde – passerby
骂街的 màjiēde – person shouting abuse on the street
遛弯儿的 liùwānrde – person going for a walk (Beijing dialect)
遛狗的 liùgǒude – person walking their dog
打头的 dǎtóude – person standing at the front of a line
要饭的 yàofànde / 讨饭的 tǎofànde – beggar
Occupations
做买卖的 zuòmǎimàide – businessperson
管账的 guǎnzhàngde – accountant
当兵的 dāngbīngde – soldier
种地的 zhòngdìde / 种田的zhòngtiánde – farmer
收破烂的 shōupòlànde – garbage collector
杀猪的 shāzhūde – butcher
算命的 suànmìngde / 算卦的 suànguàde – fortuneteller
看门的 kānménde – gatekeeper; door attendant
办事的 bànshìde – office worker
打铁的 dǎtiěde – blacksmith
剃头的 tìtóude – barber
要账的 yàozhàngde /要钱的 yàoqiánde – debt collector
卖艺的 màiyìde – street artist
拉车的 lāchēde – rickshaw driver
说书的 shuōshūde – storyteller
送水的 sòngshuǐde / 挑水的 tiāoshuǐde – someone who delivers drinking water to one’s home
倒水的 dàoshuǐde – someone who pours water
淘粪的 táofènde / 挑大粪的 tiǎodàfènde (in North-East China) – someone who collects human waste for use as fertiliser
管事的 guǎnshìde – someone with high-level responsibility in the government (i.e. an official) or in a company
掌柜的 zhǎngguìde – shopkeeper (old-fashioned)
女掌柜的 nǚzhǎngguìde – female shopkeeper (old-fashioned)
跑堂的 pǎotángde – waiter (old-fashioned), same as 小二 xiǎoèr
Curse Words
狗日的 gǒurìde – literally 狗 (“dog; despicable”) + 日 (“fuck”) – motherfucker
狗娘养的 gǒuniángyǎngde – literally – 狗 (“dog; despicable”) + 娘 (“mother”) + 养 (“to raise”) – bastard – synonym – 狗杂种 gǒuzázhǒng – literally “mixed-breed dog”
杀千刀的 shāqiāndāode – literally “[one who needs to be] killed with the cuts of a thousand knifes” – bastard; son-of-a-bitch
Quirky Words
带把儿的 dàibàrde –literally “with a handle” – a baby boy
当家的 dāngjiādede – literally “[one who] manages home” – the one who manages the household
少当家的 shàodāngjiāde – the son (少shào) of the person who manages the household
掌勺的 zhǎngsháode –literally “holding a spoon” – the one who does the cooking at home
吃软饭的 chīruǎnfànde – literally “[one who] eats soft rice” – someone who lives off a woman
垫背的 diànbèide – literally refers to belongings put under a body after death – metaphorically refers to someone who is made to share the fault or guilt of others; a scapegoat