长 and 长得

Non-native speakers of Chinese can often get the words 长 (zhǎng) vs 长得 (zhǎngde) mixed up. Both these words are about "growing", but they have different functions. Let's look at them one by one.

母语非汉语者通常会混淆“长”与“长得”。虽然这两个词都有“生长（growing）”的意思，但它们的功能却不同。让我们来分别看看这两词。

长 (zhǎng): to grow, to develop

长：生长，发展

The word 长 itself means "to grow" (note that this is pronounced zhǎng, and not cháng). It can mean "to grow" as in to grow larger or, or to grow a particular feature. Let's have a look at some example sentences:

“长”字本身就是表示“生长（to grow）”的意思。（注意：在这里，“长”的发音是“zhǎng”，而非“cháng”）。“长”字可以表示发展得更大或发展到具有某个特征，请看例句：

她长高了五公分。

Tā zhǎnggāole wǔ gōngfēn.

She's grown five centimetres taller.

草已长了根。

Cǎo yǐ zhǎngle gēn.

The grass has grown roots.

树长叶子了。

Shù zhǎng yèzi le.

The tree has grown leaves.

我长了痘痘。

Wǒ zhǎngle dòudou.

I've got a spot. (lit. I've grown a spot.)

Notice how 长 is about growing or developing features. 长 also combines into varius words related to growth, such as 增长 (zēngzhǎng).

注意例句中是如何用“长”表示发展到具有某种特征的。“长”字也可以与其他各种与“成长”有关的词连用，例如“增长”。

长得 (zhǎngde): present state of growth, to look…

长得 is used to talk about the present state of growth or something, and by extension, how something or someone looks. Adding 得 to 长 is about "the result of growth". Some example sentences:

“长得”是指“成长”的状态或某物的现状，也就是说，某物或某人看起来如何。在“长”之后加“得”指“成长的结果”。例句：

他长得很帅。

Tā zhǎngde hěn shuài.

He's very handsome.

她长得比较结实。

Tā zhǎngde bǐjiào jiēshi.

She's grown quite strong.

他长得很像他爸爸。

Tā zhǎngde hěn xiàng tā bàba.

He really looks like his dad.

那些树长得太高了。

Nàxiē shù zhǎng de tài gāole.

Those trees have grown too tall.

Notice how 长得 is about the result of growth or an appearance or state that has developed.

注意，“长得”是指成长的结果、事物的外观或发展的状态。

Translated from: chineseboost