HSK 5
得了
de le
得了 (déle)
Explanation
得了 (déle) is a phrase in colloquial speech (everyday speech), usually placed at the end of a sentence or standing alone, expressing the speaker's attitude.
(1) verb + 得了 → 'just do something and be done with it', expressing reluctant acceptance, settling on a solution (e.g. 去得了 qù déle: just go and be done with it). (2) 得了（吧）at the head/standing alone → 'come off it, that's enough', expressing rejection, disbelief, or stopping someone.
Use it when you want to settle a matter ('let's just do it that way'), or when refuting someone's boasting/exaggeration ('come off it'). Often 吧 (ba) or 可 (kě) is added to strengthen the nuance ('得了吧', '可得了吧').
得 here is read as 'dé', different from 得 (de) as a complement particle or 得 (děi: must). This is a colloquial usage; avoid using it in formal/written usage.
Vietnamese learners easily confuse 得了 with the potential complement '...得了' (déliǎo: to be able to manage, e.g. 吃得了 chī deliǎo: able to finish eating). You must rely on context and intonation to distinguish: 得了 (déle) carries the attitude of 'enough/let's be done with it', while 得了 (deliǎo) indicates capability.
Examples
Rather than trouble other people, you might as well just go yourself and be done with it.
Come off it, there's no way he'd ever help others.
Oh come off it, who would ever think that way?
Practice
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Learn “得了” effectively
The grammar point “得了” (得了 (déle)) is one of the key structures at HSK 5. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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