[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$ffQjFmoWIA7QnDvmTp2Rm1aqn1q-HhglMwjfqpUAAzy4":3},{"success":4,"data":5},true,{"id":6,"group_id":7,"locale":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"level":11,"content":12,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"cover_image_url":15,"is_published":4,"created_at":16,"updated_at":16,"type":17,"alternate_urls":18,"examples":19,"quizzes":43},12,"ff60a9dd-e851-4999-9556-9b0797721f86","en","chinese-grammar-verb-bu-complement","Master Chinese Inability: Verb + 不 + Complement Grammar","HSK 3","## 1. Meaning and Usage\nThe structure \"Verb + 不 + Complement\" (V + 不 + C) expresses an *inability* or *impossibility* for the action of the verb to achieve the result or direction indicated by the complement. It signifies that something *cannot* be done or *cannot* reach a certain state, often due to objective reasons, lack of skill, insufficient conditions, or external obstacles. It is the negative form of the potential complement structure \"Verb + 得 + Complement\".\n\n## 2. Formulas and Examples\n\n### Case 1: General Inability to Achieve a Result (Resultative Complements)\nThis often indicates an inability to complete the action, understand something, or perceive clearly.\n\n$$V + 不 + Resultative Complement$$\n\n*   **Complement Examples:** 完 (finish), 懂 (understand), 见 (see\u002Fperceive), 清 (clear), 好 (well\u002Fproperly)\n\n> **我今天工作太多了，可能做不完。**\n> *Wǒ jīntiān gōngzuò tài duō le, kěnéng zuò bù wán.*\n> I have too much work today, I probably can't finish it.\n\n> **他说得太快，我听不懂。**\n> *Tā shuō de tài kuài, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.*\n> He speaks too fast, I can't understand him.\n\n> **雾太大，我看不清前面的路。**\n> *Wù tài dà, wǒ kàn bù qīng qiánmiàn de lù.*\n> The fog is too thick, I can't see the road ahead clearly.\n\n### Case 2: Inability to Move, Hold, or Separate (Resultative\u002FPotential Complements)\nThese structures express that one cannot physically move an object, hold something steady, remember something, or open\u002Fseparate something.\n\n$$V + 不 + 动 \u002F 住 \u002F 开$$\n\n*   **Complement Examples:** 动 (move), 住 (hold\u002Fstop\u002Fremember), 开 (open\u002Fseparate)\n\n> **这个箱子太重了，我搬不动。**\n> *Zhège xiāngzi tài zhòng le, wǒ bān bù dòng.*\n> This box is too heavy, I can't move it.\n\n> **这个词太难了，我记不住。**\n> *Zhège cí tài nán le, wǒ jì bù zhù.*\n> This word is too difficult, I can't remember it.\n\n> **这扇门锁住了，打不开。**\n> *Zhè shàn mén suǒ zhù le, dǎ bù kāi.*\n> This door is locked, it can't be opened.\n\n### Case 3: Inability to Afford, Endure, or Get Used To (Potential Complements)\nThese specific potential complements express inability related to capacity, cost, or adaptation.\n\n$$V + 不 + 了 (liǎo) \u002F 起 (qǐ) \u002F 惯 (guàn)$$\n\n*   **Complement Examples:** 了 (liǎo - finish\u002Fendure), 起 (qǐ - afford\u002Frise), 惯 (guàn - used to)\n\n> **我病了，今天吃不了饭。**\n> *Wǒ bìng le, jīntiān chī bù liǎo fàn.*\n> I'm sick, I can't eat today. (Cannot manage to eat\u002Fcan't bear to eat)\n\n> **这件衣服太贵了，我买不起。**\n> *Zhè jiàn yīfu tài guì le, wǒ mǎi bù qǐ.*\n> This piece of clothing is too expensive, I can't afford it.\n\n> **我刚来中国，还吃不惯辣的食物。**\n> *Wǒ gāng lái Zhōngguó, hái chī bù guàn là de shíwù.*\n> I just arrived in China, I'm still not used to eating spicy food.\n\n### Case 4: Inability to Achieve Direction (Directional Complements)\nThis expresses that the action cannot result in the specified direction.\n\n$$V + 不 + Directional Complement$$\n\n*   **Complement Examples:** 进来 (come in), 出去 (go out), 上来 (come up), 下去 (go down), 过去 (pass over\u002Fgo over)\n\n> **屋子里人太多，我挤不进去。**\n> *Wūzi lǐ rén tài duō, wǒ jǐ bù jìnqu.*\n> There are too many people in the room, I can't squeeze in.\n\n> **这杯咖啡太烫了，我喝不下去。**\n> *Zhè bēi kāfēi tài tàng le, wǒ hē bù xiàqu.*\n> This cup of coffee is too hot, I can't drink it down.\n\n## 3. Essential HSK Tips & Common Mistakes\n\n1.  **Distinguishing from `不 + Verb`:** English speakers often confuse \"V + 不 + C\" with simple negation using \"不 + V\".\n    *   `不 + V` negates the action itself, often implying a habitual non-action or an intention not to do something.\n        > **我今天不吃饭。**\n        > *Wǒ jīntiān bù chī fàn.*\n        > I'm not eating today. (My choice\u002Fintention)\n    *   `V + 不 + C` implies an *inability* or *impossibility* to complete the action or achieve its result.\n        > **我今天吃不了饭。**\n        > *Wǒ jīntiān chī bù liǎo fàn.*\n        > I can't eat today. (Due to sickness, lack of time, etc.)\n\n2.  **Potential vs. Actual Non-Completion (没):** Remember that `V + 不 + C` expresses *potential* inability. If you want to say that something *was not* completed or achieved in the past, you should use `没(有)` before the verb.\n    *   `V + 不 + C`: Emphasizes *cannot* or *is unable to*.\n        > **我看不懂那篇文章。**\n        > *Wǒ kàn bù dǒng nà piān wénzhāng.*\n        > I can't understand that article. (I lack the ability or conditions.)\n    *   `没(有) + V + C`: Emphasizes *did not* achieve the result.\n        > **我没看懂那篇文章。**\n        > *Wǒ méi kàn dǒng nà piān wénzhāng.*\n        > I didn't understand that article. (It happened in the past, and I failed to understand.)\n\n3.  **Recognizing the Complement's Meaning:** The meaning of `V + 不 + C` is heavily dependent on the specific complement. Memorize common complements and their nuances (e.g., `完` for completion, `懂` for comprehension, `动` for physical movement, `了` for capacity\u002Fendurance, `起` for affording).\n\n4.  **Negative of `V + 得 + C`:** This structure is the direct negative counterpart to `V + 得 + C`. If you can use `V + 得 + C` to express ability, you can usually use `V + 不 + C` to express inability.\n    *   `V + 得 + C`: `他听得懂中文。` (He can understand Chinese.)\n    *   `V + 不 + C`: `他听不懂中文。` (He cannot understand Chinese.)","Chinese Grammar: Verb + 不 + Complement Explained","Learn how to use the 'Verb + 不 + Complement' structure in Chinese to express inability or negative potential. Master how to say 'can't see,' 'can't understand,' and more. Essential HSK 3 grammar.",null,"2026-06-30T15:28:13.341Z","structure",{"en":9},[20,27,33],{"id":21,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":23,"pinyin_sentence":24,"translation":25,"explanation":26,"created_at":16},28,"ai_standard","我今天作业太多，做不完。","Wǒ jīntiān zuòyè tài duō, zuò bu wán.","I have too much homework today, I can't finish it.","The structure '做不完' (zuò bu wán) uses the verb '做' (to do), followed by '不', and then the result complement '完' (to finish), indicating an inability to complete the action.",{"id":28,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":29,"pinyin_sentence":30,"translation":31,"explanation":32,"created_at":16},29,"天太黑了，我看不清楚路。","Tiān tài hēile, wǒ kàn bu qīngchu lù.","It's too dark, I can't see the road clearly.","The structure '看不清楚' (kàn bu qīngchu) uses the verb '看' (to see), followed by '不', and then the result complement '清楚' (clear), expressing an inability to see with clarity.",{"id":34,"topic_id":6,"source_type":35,"song_id":36,"chinese_sentence":37,"pinyin_sentence":38,"translation":39,"explanation":40,"created_at":16,"song_slug":41,"song_title":42,"song_locale":8},30,"song_lyric",1,"我的情不移","wǒ de qíng bù yí","My devotion will not waver","Câu hát sử dụng cấu trúc này nằm trong bài hát [月亮代表我的心].","learn-chinese-with-the-moon-represents-my-heart-yue-liang-dai-biao-wo-de-xin","Learn Chinese: The Moon Represents My Heart (Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin) - Teresa Teng",[44,54,63],{"id":45,"topic_id":6,"question_text":46,"options":47,"correct_answer_index":52,"explanation_answer":53,"created_at":16},34,"根据句意，选择最恰当的词语填入横线处：\n天色已晚，路上又没有灯，行人____，请大家小心。",[48,49,50,51],"A. 看不清","B. 看得清","C. 走不动","D. 看不见",0,"本题考察V不C结构在语境中的恰当使用。\n“天色已晚，路上又没有灯”表示光线不足。\n选项A“看不清”意为“不能看清楚”，这与光线不足导致的效果吻合，即能看到东西但看不清楚细节。\n选项B“看得清”与句意相反。\n选项C“走不动”意为“不能走\u002F移动”，与光线条件无关。\n选项D“看不见”意为“完全看不到”，语气过强。虽然没有灯，但“天色已晚”并不意味着完全黑暗，通常是说“看不清”比“看不见”更符合这种情境。\n因此，最恰当的选项是A。",{"id":55,"topic_id":6,"question_text":56,"options":57,"correct_answer_index":52,"explanation_answer":62,"created_at":16},35,"下列哪个句子是语法正确的？",[58,59,60,61],"A. 这道题太难了，我做不出来。","B. 他说得那么快，我听不清楚他。","C. 这本杂志我看不完今天。","D. 那个字太小，我看不它清。","本题考察V不C结构的词序。\n选项A“这道题太难了，我做不出来。”是正确的。\"做不出来\" (S + V + 不 + C) 是一个标准的补语结构，表示因某种原因无法完成或得出结果。\n选项B“他说得那么快，我听不清楚他。”是错误的。\"听不清楚\"通常指听不清对方说的话或内容，而不是直接听不清这个人本身。正确的说法应该是“我听不清楚他说的话\u002F他说的内容”。\n选项C“这本杂志我看不完今天。”是错误的。时间状语“今天”应该放在动词短语“看不完”之前或句首，而不能放在补语之后。正确的说法可以是“这本杂志我今天看不完”或“今天这本杂志我看不完”。\n选项D“那个字太小，我看不它清。”是错误的。代词宾语“它”不能插入到动词“看”和补语“清”之间。正确的说法是“那个字我看不清”或“我看不清那个字”。",{"id":64,"topic_id":6,"question_text":56,"options":65,"correct_answer_index":70,"explanation_answer":71,"created_at":16},36,[66,67,68,69],"A. 我看不懂他写得很什么。","B. 这部电影太感人了，我看得非常哭。","C. 这个问题太难了，我答得很不出来。","D. 饭太多了，他一个人吃不完。",3,"本题考察V不C结构的常见错误。\n选项A“我看不懂他写得很什么。”是错误的。\"得很什么\"的表达不符合汉语语法，\"很\"不能这样使用。如果想表达看懂了什么，应是“我看懂了他写的东西”，如果想表达没看懂什么，应是“我没看懂他写了什么”。\n选项B“这部电影太感人了，我看得非常哭。”是错误的。表示程度的副词\"非常\"不能直接修饰动词\"哭\"，尤其是在V得C结构中。正确的说法应该是“我感动得哭了”或“我哭得非常厉害”。\n选项C“这个问题太难了，我答得很不出来。”是错误的。在\"V不C\"（\"答不出来\"）结构中，表示程度的副词（如\"很\"、\"非常\"、\"太\"等）不能直接置于\"不\"之前。\"V不C\"是一个固定的否定能力或可能性的结构，中间不能插入程度副词。\n选项D“饭太多了，他一个人吃不完。”是正确的。\"吃不完\"是一个标准的V不C结构，表示一个人无法完成（吃）所有的饭，没有语法错误。"]