Potential complement (1): V + 得/不 + result
补语 / complements
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
The potential complement says whether you can or can't achieve a result. Insert 得 (possible) or 不 (impossible) between the verb and its complement:
- 听懂 (understand by listening) → 听得懂 / 听不懂
- 看清楚 → 看得清楚 / 看不清楚
- 回来 → 回得来 / 回不来
It's often more natural than 能/不能: ✓ 我听不懂 is far more idiomatic than ✗ 我不能听懂. The 不 is neutral tone: kàn bu dǒng.
Questions: 你听得懂吗？ / 你听得懂听不懂？
Examples
屏幕太小了，我看不清楚。
Píngmù tài xiǎo le, wǒ kàn bu qīngchu.The screen is too small, I can't see clearly.
没有网，我的邮件发不出去。
Méiyǒu wǎng, wǒ de yóujiàn fā bu chūqù.Without internet, my emails won't send.
你说得太快了，我听不懂。
Nǐ shuō de tài kuài le, wǒ tīng bu dǒng.You're speaking too fast, I can't understand.
这个密码你记得住吗？
Zhège mìmǎ nǐ jì de zhù ma?Can you remember this password?
Common mistakes
✗ 我不能听懂。 → ✓ 我听不懂。
✗ 我听不懂了你的话。 → no 了 with potential complements. ✓ 我听不懂你的话。
✗ 把 + potential complement: ✗ 我把作业做不完 → ✓ 我做不完作业。