Help with when to use 的 / de

[u/unseasonedunflavored]

hi everyone!
i’m fairly new to learning mandarin and right now i’m exclusively using HelloChinese. this might be stupid but i really don’t understand the difference between using 的 and not using it. any help is appreciated thank you so much 谢谢🙏🏻

[u/brjosk]

(disclaimer: I am not fluent at all, but I did take a few years of Mandarin in high school)

I was taught that 的 signifies possession (like “hers” or “yours” or “Tim’s”)

I was also taught that it is sometimes omitted when speaking about someone close to you, like family members - “我爸爸” (but “我的爸爸” is also correct)

[u/Rihpog → u/brjosk]

Chinese are saying “我爸” more which means “my Dad” in the real life, “我爸爸” is more close to the meaning of “My Daddy” that kids are likely to use