In Mandarin, action verbs refer to open-ended processes and not to their conclusions or results. For example, the verb 买/買 mǎi refers to ‘shopping,’ not ‘buying.’ The verb 找 zhǎo refers to ‘looking for’ something, not ‘finding’ it.
English sometimes uses two entirely different verbs to refer to a process and its result or conclusion. In Mandarin, processes and results are always expressed using the same verb. The process is expressed with an open-ended action verb. The result or conclusion is expressed by adding a resultative suffix to the open-ended action verb. Verbs that are formed by an action verb and a resultative suffix are often referred to as resultative verbs.
Resultative verb structure: action verb + resultative ending
NOTE
Some grammars refer to the resultative suffix as a complement of result.
Resultative suffixes that indicate the conclusion of an action:
| Suffix | Meaning |
| 完 | |
| wán | to finish |
| 好 | |
| hǎo | to do to a successful conclusion |
Resultative suffixes that indicate the result of an action:
Here are example sentences with resultative verbs.
| Q: | 你听到了那个声音吗？ | A: | 没听到。 |
| 你聽到了那個聲音嗎？ | 沒聽到。 | ||
| Nǐ tīngdào le nàge shēngyīn ma? | Méi tīngdào. | ||
| Did you hear that sound? | I didn’t hear it. | ||
| Q: | 你吃饱了吗？ | A: | 吃饱了。 |
| 你吃飽了嗎？ | 吃飽了。 | ||
| Nǐ chībǎo le ma? | Chībǎo le. | ||
| Did you eat until full? (Are you full?) | I ate until full. (I’m full.) |
我把我自己的名字写错了。
我把我自己的名字寫錯了。
Wǒ bǎ wǒ zìjǐ de míngzi xiěcuò le.
I wrote my own name wrong.
Directional suffixes may also indicate the result of movement.
我们走进来了。
我們走進來了。
Wǒmen zǒujìnlái le.
We walked in.
猫跳上沙发去了。
貓跳上沙發去了。
Māo tiàoshàng shāfā qù le.
The cat jumped onto the sofa.
The verb suffix 了 le occurs at the end of resultative verbs, after the resultative suffix, to indicate that the action is complete or the desired result has been attained.
我做完了功课。
我做完了功課。
Wǒ zuòwán le gōngkè.
I finished my homework.
我吃饱了。
我吃飽了。
Wǒ chībǎo le.
I am full. (I’ve eaten until full.)
了 le never occurs between the action verb and the resultative ending.
| Say this | Not this |
| 你找到了你的皮包吗？ | *你找了到你的皮包吗？ |
| 你找到了你的皮包嗎？ | 你找了到你的皮包嗎？ |
| Nǐ zhǎodào le nǐ de píbāo ma? | Nǐ zhǎo le dào nǐ de píbāo ma? |
| Have you found your wallet? |
The negative marker 没/沒 méi is used to indicate that an action has not been completed or that the desired result has not been attained. 没/沒 méi occurs before the entire resultative verb.
我没看完。
我沒看完。
Wǒ méi kànwán.
I haven’t finished reading.
我没听懂。
我沒聽懂。
Wǒ méi tīngdǒng.
I didn’t understand (by listening).
没/沒 méi never occurs between the action verb and resultative suffix.
| Say this | Not this |
| 我没念错。 | *我念没错。 |
| 我沒唸錯。 | 我唸沒錯。 |
| Wǒ méi niàncuò. | Wǒ niàn méi cuò. |
| I didn’t read (it) wrong. |
得 de and 不 bu may occur between an action verb and a resultative or directional suffix to indicate that it is possible or not possible to reach the result. When 得 de and 不 bu are used in this way, we refer to them as potential infixes and the form of the resultative or directional verb as the potential form.
To indicate that it is possible to perform an action and reach a conclusion or result, add the potential infix 得 de into the middle of the resultative verb, between the action verb and the resultative suffix:
action verb + 得 de + resultative suffix
我听得懂中国电影。
我聽得懂中國電影。
Wǒ tīngdedǒng Zhōngguó diànyǐng.
I can understand (by listening) Chinese movies.
你吃得完那么多东西吗？
你吃得完那麼多東西嗎？
Nǐ chīdewán nàme duō dōngxi ma?
Can you finish eating that many things?
To indicate that it is not possible to reach a conclusion or result, add the potential infix 不 bu into the middle of the resultative or directional verb, between the action verb and the resultative suffix:
action verb + 不 bu + resultative suffix
王老师的话我都听不懂。
王老師的話我都聽不懂。
Wáng lǎoshī de huà wǒ dōu tīngbudǒng.
I can’t understand (by listening) what Professor Wang says.
我找不到我的皮包。
Wǒ zhǎobudào wǒ de píbāo.
I can’t find my wallet.
NOTE
The infixes 得 de and 不 bu are the only things that can occur between an action verb and a resultative suffix.
Resultative verbs in the negative potential form occur with the question word 怎么/怎麼 zěnme to indicate that a result cannot be achieved no matter what the subject does.
我怎么学也学不会。
我怎麼學也學不會。
Wǒ zěnme xué yě xuébuhuì.
No matter how I study I can’t learn (it).
他怎么找也找不到。
他怎麼找也找不到。
Tā zěnme zhǎo yě zhǎobudào.
No matter how I look I can’t find (it).
► 28.6
The functions of resultative verbs and their occurrence with 了 le and negation are summarized below.
| The action occurred and the result was attained | The action occurred but the result or conclusion was not attained |
| resultative verb + 了 le | 没 méi + resultative verb |
| 我吃饱了。 | 我没吃饱。 |
| 我吃飽了。 | 我沒吃飽。 |
| Wǒ chībǎo le. | Wǒ méi chībǎo. |
| I ate until full. | I did not eat until full. (I ate but was not full.) |
| It is possible to attain the indicated result or conclusion by performing the verb | It is impossible to attain the indicated result or conclusion by performing the verb |
| action verb 得 de result/conclusion | action verb 不 bu result/conclusion |
| 我吃得饱。 | 我吃不饱。 |
| 我吃得飽。 | 我吃不飽。 |
| Wǒ chīdebǎo. | Wǒ chībubǎo. |
| I am able to eat until full. | I am unable to eat until full. |
Resultative suffixes indicate the result or conclusion of an action. To indicate that the subject is able to or unable to perform the action, add one of the following potential suffixes to the verb:
-得了 deliǎo able to perform the action
-不了 buliǎo unable to perform the action
► 18.6.2
Use this suffix to say that the subject is able to perform the action of the verb or that the subject is able to finish the action. In the latter sense, it is similar to the resultative suffix 完 wán ‘to finish.’
他很聪明，一定做得了这件事情。
他很聰明，一定做得了這件事情。
Tā hěn cōngming, yīdìng zuòdeliǎo zhèjiàn shìqing.
He is very smart. He is certainly able to take care of this matter.
今天的功课这么多，我做不了。
今天的功課這麼多，我做不了。
Jīntiān de gōngkè zhème duō, wǒ zuòbuliǎo.
There is so much homework today. I can’t do it. (can’t finish it.)
你点了这么多菜，我们吃得了吗？
你點了這麼多菜，我們吃得了嗎？
Nǐ diǎn le zhème duō cài, wǒmen chīdeliǎo ma?
You’ve ordered so many dishes. Will we be able to eat them? (finish eating them?)
Use this suffix to say that the subject is not able to do some action.
我用不了筷子。
Wǒ yòngbuliǎo kuàizi.
I am unable to use chopsticks.
他一定走不了那么远。
他一定走不了那麼遠。
Tā yīdìng zǒubuliǎo nàme yuǎn.
He is certainly unable to walk that far.
这是他的个性，他改不了。
這是他的個性，他改不了。
Zhè shì tā de gèxìng, tā gǎibùliǎo.
This is his nature. He can’t change.
► 18.6.2
To ask about the ability of a subject to perform an action, form a yes–no question with 吗/嗎 ma or with the verb-not-verb structure.
• 吗/嗎 ma
你吃得了这么多菜吗？
你吃得了這麽多菜嗎？
Nǐ chīdeliǎo zhème duō cài ma?
Are you able to eat this many dishes?
• Verb-not-verb structure: verb 得了 deliǎo verb 不了 bùliǎo
他做得了做不了这件事情？
他做得了做不了這件事情？
Tā zuòdeliǎo zuòbuliǎo zhè jiànshìqing?
Is he able to take care of this matter or not?
这么多菜，你吃得了吃不了？
這麽多菜，你吃得了吃不了 ？
Zhème duō cài, nǐ chīdeliǎo chībuliǎo?
This many dishes, are you able to eat them or not?
To answer ‘yes,’ say verb 得了 deliǎo:
做得了。
Zuòdeliǎo.
He can do it.
吃得了。
Chīdéliǎo.
I can eat them.
To answer ‘no,’ say verb 不了 buliǎo:
做不了。
Zuòbuliǎo.
He can’t do it.
吃不了。
Chībuliǎo.
I can’t eat them.
► 18.6.1
–掉 diào
掉 diào indicates completion, and often also carries negative connotations for the speaker. It may serve as a suffix on action verbs or change-of-state action verbs in which the action does not bring about a resulting state. It does not occur in the potential form.
甩掉 shuǎidiào ‘to throw away, to discard’
他把那个孩子甩掉不管了。
他把那個孩子甩掉不管了。
Tā bǎ nàge háizi shuǎidiào bù guǎn le.
He abandoned that child.
你怎么把我的信给扔掉了？
你怎麼把我的信給扔掉了？
Nǐ zěnme bǎ wǒ de xìn gěi rēngdiào le?
Why did you throw away my letter?
死掉 sǐdiào ‘to die’
我忘了浇水，花儿都死掉了。
我忘了澆水，花兒都死掉了。
Wǒ wàng le jiāo shuǐ, huār dōu sǐdiào le.
I forgot to water (them) and all of my flowers died.
忘掉 wàngdiào ‘to forget completely’
你怎么能忘掉了这么要紧的事情？
你怎麼能忘掉了這麼要緊的事情？
Nǐ zěnme néng wàngdiào le zhème yàojǐn de shìqing?
How could you forget such an important thing?
丢掉 diūdiào‘to lose’
我的护照丢掉了。我得去报警。
我的護照丟掉了。我得去報警。
Wǒ de hùzhào diūdiào le. Wǒ děi qù bào jǐng.
I lost my passport. I have to report it to the police.
–得及 deji, -不及 buji
及 jí only occurs in potential form. It means to be able to do an action on time.
来得及/來得及 láideji; ‘to be able to arrive on time’
来不及/來不及 láibuji ‘to be unable to arrive on time’
| Q: | 我们现在去上课，来得及来不及？ |
| 我們現在去上課，來得及來不及？ | |
| Wǒmen xiànzài qù shàng kè, láidejí láibují? | |
| If we go to class now, will we get there on time? | |
| A: | 还有五分钟。快点儿走来得及。 |
| 還有五分鐘。快點兒走來得及。 | |
| Hái yǒu wǔfēn zhōng. Kuài diǎr zǒu láidejí. | |
| We still have five minutes. If we go fast we can get there on time. |
–得起 deqǐ, -不起 buqǐ
起 qǐ only occurs in potential form. Its most common meaning is to be able to afford to do the verb.
吃得起 chīdeqǐ ‘to be able to afford to eat something’
吃不起 chībuqǐ ‘to be unable to afford to eat something’
| Q: | 天天在饭馆吃饭，吃得起吃不起？ |
| 天天在飯館吃飯，吃得起吃不起？ | |
| Tiāntiān zài fànguǎn chī fàn, chīdeqǐ chībuqǐ? | |
| Can you afford to eat in a restaurant every day? | |
| A: | 有的人吃得起，有的人吃不起。 |
| Yǒude rén chīdeqǐ, yǒude rén chībuqǐ. | |
| Some people can afford it, some can’t. |
住得起 zhùdeqǐ ‘to be able to afford to live someplace’
住不起 zhùbuqǐ ‘to be unable to afford to live someplace’
| Q: | 现在北京房子那么贵，你们住得起住不起？ |
| 現在北京房子那麼貴，你們住得起住不起？ | |
| Xiànzài Běijīng fángzi nàme guì, nǐmen zhùdeqǐ zhùbuqǐ? | |
| Houses in Beijing are so expensive now, can you afford to live there? | |
| A: | 我们住得起，可是我们的孩子住不起。 |
| 我們住得起，可是我們的孩子住不起。 | |
| Wǒmen zhùdeqǐ, kěshì wǒmen de háizi zhùbuqǐ. | |
| We can afford to live there, but our children cannot afford to live there. |
–得起 deqǐ and -不起 buqǐ also have idiomatic meanings when suffixed to certain verbs.
看得起 kàndeqǐ ‘to have a good opinion of, think highly of’
看不起 kànbuqǐ ’to look down on, despise’
你不应该看不起没有钱的人。
你不應該看不起沒有錢的人。
Nǐ bù yīnggāi kànbuqǐ méi yǒu qián de rén.
You should not look down on people who have no money.
对得起/對得起 duìdeqǐ ‘to show respect to someone’
对不起/對不起 duìbuqǐ ‘to disappoint someone, cause someone to be embarrassed or lose face’
| Q: | 你不好好地念书对得起对不起你的父母？ |
| 你不好好地唸書對得起對不起你的父母？ | |
| Nǐ bù hǎohāo de niàn shū duìdeqǐ duìbuqǐ nǐ de fùmǔ? | |
| If you do not study hard, how can you face your parents? | |
| A: | 我一定要好好地念书才能对得起他们。 |
| 我一定要好好地唸書才能對得起他們。 | |
| Wǒ yīdìng yào hǎohāo de niànshū cái néng duìdeqǐ tāmen. | |
| I certainly want to study hard so that I can make them happy. |
–上 shàng
上 shàng has a special meaning when used in the resultative verb 考上 kǎoshàng ‘to pass an entrance exam’ (especially a university entrance exam). The potential forms are:
考得上 kǎodeshàng ‘to be able to pass the entrance exam’
考不上 kǎobushàng ‘to be unable to pass the entrance exam’;
| Q: | 你想我今年考得上考不上北大？ |
| Nǐ xiǎng wǒ jīnnián kǎodeshàng kǎobushàng Běi Dà? | |
| Do you think I will be able to pass the entrance exam for Beijing University this year? | |
| A: | 我想你一定考得上。 |
| Wǒ xiǎng nǐ yīdìng kǎodeshàng. | |
| I think you will certainly pass the exam. |
–不定 buding
–不定 buding has a restricted use as a resultative verb ending:
说不定/說不定 shuōbudìng ‘perhaps’
他现在还没来，说不定他不会来了。
他現在還沒來，說不定他不會來了。
Tā xiànzài hái méi lái, shuōbudìng tā bù huì lái le.
He hasn’t come yet. Perhaps he won’t come.
Resultative verbs indicate the result of actions. To indicate the result or extent of a situation, use the following structure:
verb 得 de verb phrase/clause
For adjectival verbs, 得 de introduces the extent of the situation, adding the meaning: so adjectival verb that verb phrase/clause.
他累得抬不起头来了。
他累得抬不起頭來了。
Tā lèi de táibuqǐtóu lái le.
He was so tired that he could not pick up his head.
她高兴得说不出话来了。
她高興得說不出話來了。
Tāgāoxìng de shuōbuchū huà lái le.
She was so happy that she was unable to speak.
他冷得发抖了。
他冷得發抖了。
Tā lěng de fādǒu le.
He was so cold that he was shivering.
When the verb is an action verb, 得 de introduces the result of the action, adding the meaning:
performed the action until verb phrase/sentence.
妈妈哭得眼睛都红了。
媽媽哭得眼睛都紅了。
Māma kū de yǎnjing dōu hóng le.
Mom cried until her eyes were red.
他走得精疲力尽了。
他走得精疲力盡了。
Tā zǒu de jīngpí lìjìn le.
He walked so much that he was exhausted.
If the action verb takes an object, the sentence takes the following form:
[action verb + object] action verb 得 de verb phrase/clause
他[走路]走得精疲力尽了。
他[走路]走得精疲力盡了。
Tā [zǒu lù] zǒu de jīngpí lìjìn le.
He walked so much that he was exhausted.