所…的 (that which…)

Structure (Subject +) 所 + verb + 的 (+ head noun) · 所…的是…

所…的 is the literary relative clause: 所 nominalizes the verb and 的 closes the group, yielding "what… / that which…", with emphasis on the object of the action. 这正是我所需要的 "this is exactly what I need" matches the relative with bare 的 (我需要的), but 所 makes it more emphatic and formal. It allows the variant 所…的是… for topicalizing: 我所担心的是时间不够 "what worries me is that there isn't enough time". Compared with plain …的 (HSK 1–2), adding 所 raises the register and highlights the object.

Examples

这zhè正zhèng是shì我wǒ所suǒ需xū要yào的de。
This is exactly what I need.
我wǒ所suǒ担dān心xīn的de是shì时shí间jiān不bù够gòu。
What worries me is that there isn't enough time.
他tā所suǒ说shuō的de话huà与yǔ事shì实shí不bù符fú。
What he said does not square with the facts.
我wǒ们men所suǒ追zhuī求qiú的de是shì公gōng平píng与yǔ正zhèng义yì。
What we pursue is fairness and justice.

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