While `定语` is a universal grammatical concept, its strict placement in Chinese reveals a key aspect of the language's logic. In Chinese, context and description are almost always provided *before* the main subject or object is mentioned. Compare the English phrase “the man who is wearing a red hat.” The main noun, “man,” is introduced first, and the description follows. In Chinese, this structure is reversed: 那个戴着红色帽子的 男人 (nàge dàizhe hóngsè màozi de nánrén). All the descriptive information—“that one,” “wearing a red hat”—is packaged together as the `定语` and placed before the noun 男人 (man). This “modifier-first” principle reflects a communication style that can be seen as “setting the scene.” It involves building up a complete picture with all the necessary qualifiers before presenting the core noun. For a learner, mastering this structure is key to thinking more like a native speaker—layering the details first, then landing on the main point.
The `定语` is one of the most common grammatical structures you will encounter. It can be a single word or a long, complex clause. The basic formula is: `定语 (Attributive) + (的 de) + 中心语 (Head Noun)` The `中心语 (zhōngxīnyǔ)` is the main noun being described. The particle `的 (de)` is the glue that often connects the `定语` to the noun.