V得起 / V不起: can / can't afford to
补语 / complements
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
S + V + 得起/不起 + O
得起 / 不起 is a potential complement saying whether you can afford (money or otherwise) to do something: 买得起 (can afford to buy), 住不起 (can't afford to live/stay), 花不起 (can't afford to spend).
Figurative: 看不起 = look down on; 对不起 = sorry (literally "not live up to"). Compare 了 (liǎo): 吃不了 = can't finish (too much); 吃不起 = too expensive to eat.
Examples
市中心的酒店太贵了，我们住不起。
Shì zhōngxīn de jiǔdiàn tài guì le, wǒmen zhù bu qǐ.Downtown hotels are too pricey; we can't afford them.
现在很多年轻人都买得起车了。
Xiànzài hěn duō niánqīngrén dōu mǎi de qǐ chē le.Nowadays many young people can afford a car.
别看不起别人。
Bié kàn bu qǐ biérén.Don't look down on others.
Common mistakes
✗ 我不能买得起。→ ✓ 我买不起。(the potential complement replaces 能)
✗ 吃不起 for "too much food" → ✓ 吃不了。