Expressing Degree with '得' — Mandarin Grammar

To indicate whether a result is possible or impossible to achieve, Chinese uses a structure known as the "Potential Complement." This involves placing (de˙ㄉㄜtê) or (bùㄅㄨˋpu4) between an action verb and a result word.

Expressing Ability with 得 (de)

To say that you can achieve a specific result from an action, place (de˙ㄉㄜtê) between the verb and the result complement. This expresses that the subject has the ability to reach that outcome, or that circumstances allow it.

The structure is: Verb + (de˙ㄉㄜtê) + Result

你看得见吗？
nǐ kàn de jiàn ma?ㄋㄧˇ ㄎㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜㄐㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄇㄚ?ni3 k'an4 tê chien4 ma?
Can you see (it)?
我听得懂汉语。
wǒ tīng de dǒng hàn·yǔ.ㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄉㄜㄉㄨㄥˇ ㄏㄢˋ·ㄩˇ.wo3 t'ing1 tê tung3 han4·yü3.
I can understand Chinese (by listening).

Expressing Inability with 不 (bù)

To say that you cannot achieve the result, replace (de˙ㄉㄜtê) with (bùㄅㄨˋpu4). This is the standard way to express "cannot [result]" in Chinese and is often used instead of the auxiliary verb (bù·néngㄅㄨˋ·ㄋㄥˊpu4·nêng2).

The structure is: Verb + (bùㄅㄨˋpu4) + Result

太多了，我吃不完。
tài duō le, wǒ chī bu wán.ㄊㄞˋ ㄉㄨㄛ ˙ㄌㄜ, ㄨㄛˇ ㄔ ˙ㄅㄨㄨㄢˊ.t'ai4 to1 lê, wo3 ch'ih1 pu wan2.
It is too much, I cannot finish eating.
老师说得太快，我听不懂。
lǎo·shī shuō de tài kuài, wǒ tīng bu dǒng.ㄌㄠˇ·ㄕㄕㄨㄛ ˙ㄉㄜㄊㄞˋ ㄎㄨㄞˋ, ㄨㄛˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄅㄨㄉㄨㄥˇ.lao3·shih1 sho1 tê t'ai4 k'wuai4, wo3 t'ing1 pu tung3.
The teacher speaks too fast, I cannot understand.

Common Result Words

This grammar pattern relies on specific "result" words that follow the main verb. Here are the most common combinations a beginner should know:

Verb + (dàoㄉㄠˋtao4): To succeed in an action (e.g., finding, buying).

书店关门了，我买不到那本书。
shū·diàn guān·mén le, wǒ mǎi bu dào nà běn shū.ㄕㄨ·ㄉㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄢ·ㄇㄣˊ ˙ㄌㄜ, ㄨㄛˇ ㄇㄞˇ ˙ㄅㄨㄉㄠˋ ㄋㄚˋ ㄅㄣˇ ㄕㄨ.shu1·tien4 kuan1·mên2 lê, wo3 mai3 pu tao4 na4 pên3 shu1.
The bookstore is closed, I cannot buy that book.

Verb + (wánㄨㄢˊwan2): To finish an action.

今天的作业我做不完。
jīn·tiān de zuò·yè wǒ zuò bu wán.ㄐㄧㄣ·ㄊㄧㄢ ˙ㄉㄜㄗㄨㄛˋ·ㄧㄝˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ˙ㄅㄨㄨㄢˊ.chin1·t'ien1 tê tso4·yeh4 wo3 tso4 pu wan2.
I cannot finish today's homework.

Verb + (jiànㄐㄧㄢˋchien4): To perceive via senses (sight/hearing).

你听得见我说话吗？
nǐ tīng de jiàn wǒ shuō·huà ma?ㄋㄧˇ ㄊㄧㄥ ˙ㄉㄜㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄛˇ ㄕㄨㄛ·ㄏㄨㄚˋ ˙ㄇㄚ?ni3 t'ing1 tê chien4 wo3 sho1·hua4 ma?
Can you hear me speaking?

Difference from 能 (néng)

Learners often confuse this structure with the auxiliary verb (néngㄋㄥˊnêng2) - can.

(néngㄋㄥˊnêng2) expresses general ability, permission, or physical possibility (e.g., "I am allowed to eat" or "I have a mouth to eat").
The Potential Complement (chī de wán / chī bu wánㄔ ˙ㄉㄜㄨㄢˊ / ㄔ ˙ㄅㄨㄨㄢˊch'ih1 tê wan2 / ch'ih1 pu wan2) focuses specifically on whether the result of the action can be realized (e.g., "I can/cannot finish the meal").

我能喝，但是喝不完。
wǒ néng hē, dàn·shì hē bu wán.ㄨㄛˇ ㄋㄥˊ ㄏㄜ, ㄉㄢˋ·ㄕˋ ㄏㄜ ˙ㄅㄨㄨㄢˊ.wo3 nêng2 ho1, tan4·shih4 ho1 pu wan2.
I can drink (I am allowed/able), but I cannot finish (it is too much).

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