Chinese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
Result and potential complements
How result complements like 完, 好, 到 and 懂 show the outcome of an action, and how 得 and 不 make potential forms like 听得懂 and 找不到.
Verb + result
A Chinese verb often names only the action: (kàn) is to look, not necessarily to see. A second word after the verb, the result complement, says what the action achieved: (kànjiàn), see; (kàndǒng), read and understand; (kànwán), finish reading. The two parts stay together, and 了 comes after both: (wǒ kànwán le), I've finished it.
| Result | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| (wán) | finished | (chīwán), (zuòwán) |
| (hǎo) | done properly, ready | (xiūhǎo), (zuòhǎo) |
| (dào) | reached, managed to get | (zhǎodào), (mǎidào) |
| (dǒng) | understood | (tīngdǒng), (kàndǒng) |
| (cuò) | wrongly | (kàncuò), (dǎcuò) |
| (huài) | broken | (yònghuài), (shuāihuài) |
| (jiàn) | perceived | (kànjiàn), (tīngjiàn) |
| (zhù) | held firmly | (jìzhù), (zhuāzhù) |
- 我听懂了。Wǒ tīngdǒng le.I understood.
- 电脑修好了。Diànnǎo xiūhǎo le.The laptop has been repaired.
- 对不起，您打错了。Duìbuqǐ, nín dǎcuò le.Sorry, you've got the wrong number.
- 我找到工作了！Wǒ zhǎodào gōngzuò le!I've found a job!
Didn't manage: 没 + verb + result
The negative uses (méi) and drops 了: (wǒ méi tīngdǒng), I didn't understand. It means you did the action but the result didn't happen. Compare (wǒ méi kàn), I didn't look, with (wǒ méi kànjiàn), I didn't see it. To ask, use or : (Nǐ zhǎodào le méiyǒu?), have you found it?
- 我找了半天，可是没找到。Wǒ zhǎole bàntiān, kěshì méi zhǎodào.I looked for ages but didn't find it.
- 作业你写完了没有？Zuòyè nǐ xiěwán le méiyǒu?Have you finished your homework?
- 对不起，我没听清楚。Duìbuqǐ, wǒ méi tīng qīngchu.Sorry, I didn't catch that.
Can or can't: potential complements
Put 得 (de) between the verb and the result for can, and (bu) for can't: (tīng de dǒng), can understand; (tīng bu dǒng), can't understand. Both 得 and are said in the neutral tone. This form says whether the result is possible in the situation; don't use for it: 我不能听懂 is wrong.
The negative form is far more common. The positive appears mostly in questions and answers: (Xiū de hǎo ma?), can it be fixed? A-not-A works too: (Nǐ kàn de dǒng kàn bu dǒng?), can you understand it?
| Can | Can't | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| (tīng de dǒng) | (tīng bu dǒng) | can / can't understand (by listening) |
| (zhǎo de dào) | (zhǎo bu dào) | can / can't find |
| (dǎ de kāi) | (dǎ bu kāi) | can / can't open or turn on |
| (chī de wán) | (chī bu wán) | can / can't finish eating |
| (mǎi de dào) | (mǎi bu dào) | can / can't get (in the shops) |
| (lái de jí) | (lái bu jí) | there's still / there isn't enough time |
| (gǎn de shàng) | (gǎn bu shàng) | can / can't make it in time |
- 我的电脑打不开了。Wǒ de diànnǎo dǎ bu kāi le.My laptop won't turn on.
- 太多了，我吃不完。Tài duō le, wǒ chī bu wán.It's too much, I can't finish it.
- 屏幕坏了，修得好吗？Píngmù huài le, xiū de hǎo ma?The screen's broken. Can it be fixed?
- 现在走还来得及吗？Xiànzài zǒu hái lái de jí ma?If we leave now, will we still make it?
Fixed potential forms
Some potential forms have meanings of their own: (shuì bu zháo), can't get to sleep; (mǎi bu qǐ), can't afford; (shòu bu liǎo), can't stand it; (kàn bu qǐ), look down on. Even (duìbuqǐ), sorry, is one: literally “can't face you”.
- 我昨天晚上一直睡不着。Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang yìzhí shuì bu zháo.I couldn't get to sleep at all last night.
- 这么贵的房子，我们买不起。Zhème guì de fángzi, wǒmen mǎi bu qǐ.We can't afford such an expensive flat.
- 这么热的天，我真受不了。Zhème rè de tiān, wǒ zhēn shòu bu liǎo.I really can't stand this heat.