语法 · HSK 3–4
Potential complements (看得见, 听不懂, 买不到)
Putting 得 (can) or 不 (cannot) between a verb and its result or direction says whether an outcome is achievable: 听得懂 "can understand", 听不懂 "cannot understand", 买不到 "cannot buy (sold out)". The negative form (Verb + 不 + Complement) is much more common in everyday speech than the positive.
句型Patterns
Verb + 得 + Result/DirectionAchievable: 看得清楚, 吃得完, 上得去.Verb + 不 + Result/DirectionNot achievable: 看不清楚, 吃不完, 找不到.Verb + 得 + Result + Verb + 不 + Result？Question: 你听得懂听不懂？ / 你听得懂吗？Verb + 得起 / 不起Can / cannot afford: 买得起, 买不起.
例句Examples
- 字太小了，我看不清楚。zì tài xiǎo le, wǒ kàn bù qīng chu.The characters are too small; I can't see them clearly.
- 这么多菜，我们两个人吃不完。zhè me duō cài, wǒ men liǎng gè rén chī bù wán.There's so much food; the two of us can't finish it.
- 今天太晚了，恐怕买不到票了。jīn tiān tài wǎn le, kǒng pà mǎi bú dào piào le.It's too late today; I'm afraid we won't be able to get tickets.
- 这件大衣太贵了，我买不起。zhè jiàn dà yī tài guì le, wǒ mǎi bù qǐ.This coat is too expensive; I can't afford it.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我不能听懂他说的话。
✓我听不懂他说的话。
To say an outcome cannot be reached, use the potential complement 听不懂 rather than 不能.
-
✗我没看不清楚。
✓我看不清楚。
The不 inside 看不清楚 already negates it; do not add 没 or 不 before the verb.
重点词语Words in this guide
Common questions
What is the difference between 不能吃 and 吃不了 (chībuliǎo)?
不能吃 means you are not allowed or shouldn't eat it (e.g. allergy); 吃不了 or 吃不完 means you cannot finish eating it because there is too much.