[Learn intermediate Chinese with grammar] How to use potential complements

What are potential complements?

A potential complement shows whether an action can reach a result. It usually places 得 ♬ or 不 ♬ between a verb and a result or direction complement.

Pattern	Basic meaning
Verb + 得 + Complement	can reach the result
Verb + 不 + Complement	cannot reach the result

The focus is not general ability. The focus is whether the action succeeds or reaches a specific result.

1. Verb + 得 + result complement

Use 得 between the verb and the result complement when the action can successfully reach the result.

Pattern	Meaning
Verb + 得 + Result Complement	can do the action and reach the result

Chinese	English
這份報告看得懂。 ♬	This report is understandable.
這個名字記得住。 ♬	This name can be remembered.

看得懂 means the result of understanding can be reached through reading. 記得住 means the result of keeping something in memory can be reached.

2. Verb + 不 + result complement

Use 不 between the verb and the result complement when the result cannot be reached.

Pattern	Meaning
Verb + 不 + Result Complement	cannot do the action to the result

Chinese	English
這個檔案打不開。 ♬	This file cannot be opened.
這段錄音聽不清楚。 ♬	This recording cannot be heard clearly.

打不開 means the action of opening cannot reach the result. 聽不清楚 means listening does not reach the result of clarity.

3. Potential complements with 到

到 often means reaching, finding, receiving, or getting contact with something. With potential complements, it becomes 得到 or 不到 after a verb.

Expression	Basic meaning
找得到 ♬	can find
找不到 ♬	cannot find
買得到 ♬	can buy; available to buy
買不到 ♬	cannot buy; unavailable

Chinese	English
附近找得到藥局。 ♬	You can find a pharmacy nearby.
這種零件現在買不到。 ♬	This kind of part cannot be bought now.

These forms are common because many actions involve reaching a target or obtaining something.

4. Potential complements with direction

Potential complements can also work with direction complements. They show whether movement into, out of, back to, or across a place is possible.

Expression	Basic meaning
進得去 ♬	can go in
進不去 ♬	cannot go in
拿得出來 ♬	can take out
拿不出來 ♬	cannot take out

Chinese	English
這張卡進得去大樓。 ♬	This card can get into the building.
抽屜卡住了，文件拿不出來。 ♬	The drawer is stuck, so the document cannot be taken out.

Here, the question is not only ability. It is whether the movement can successfully happen.

5. Potential complements vs. 可以

可以 ♬ often means permission or general possibility. A potential complement focuses more on whether the action can reach the result.

Chinese	English	Focus
我可以開這個檔案。 ♬	I can open this file.	permission or general possibility
我打得開這個檔案。 ♬	I can successfully open this file.	whether opening reaches the result

If the issue is permission, use 可以. If the issue is whether the action succeeds, a potential complement is often more precise.

6. Potential complements vs. 會

會 ♬ often means learned ability or future possibility. A potential complement usually focuses on the success of this specific action in this situation.

Chinese	English	Focus
他會修這種機器。 ♬	He knows how to repair this kind of machine.	skill
他修得好這台機器。 ♬	He can repair this machine well.	whether he can reach a good result

會 describes what someone knows how to do. The potential complement describes whether the result can be achieved.

7. Questions with potential complements

To ask whether a result can be reached, use the positive-negative form of the potential complement.

Pattern	Meaning
Verb + 得 + Complement + Verb + 不 + Complement?	Can the action reach the result or not?

Chinese	English
這份說明看得懂看不懂？ ♬	Can you understand this explanation?
這個入口找得到找不到？ ♬	Can you find this entrance?

In daily speech, people may also ask 看得懂嗎？ or 找得到嗎？. Both are useful question forms.

8. Common mistakes

Do not place 得 or 不 before the verb in a potential complement. It goes between the verb and the result or direction complement.

Not natural	Natural Chinese
這份報告得看懂。	這份報告看得懂。 ♬
這個檔案不打開。	這個檔案打不開。 ♬
文件拿出來不。	文件拿不出來。 ♬

The not-natural examples are only for comparison, so they do not need audio.

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