Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟
Now that we’re diving back into our Mandarin studies, it’s the perfect time to pick up where we left off and build on what we’ve learned.
Today, we’re exploring potential complements—a fascinating feature that builds on the previous lesson about result complements. Just like before, we’ll uncover how these complements work to express possibility and capability in Mandarin, adding another layer to your understanding.
Let’s jump right back in and make the most of this fresh start together!
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💎 This Week’s Gem: Potential Complements (Part 2) 💎
Now that you're familiar with result complements, which tell us about the outcome of an action, let’s dive into potential complements!
Potential complements are all about possibility and ability. They help us express whether an action can or cannot be completed, achieved, or afforded, rather than describing whether it actually happened.
⚖️ The Difference Between Result Complements and Potential Complements
Result Complements like 完 (wán) in 看完 (kàn wán) describe the completion or outcome of an action. For instance, 看完 means “to finish reading,” indicating that the reading has been completed.
Potential Complements, on the other hand, use 得 (de) or 不 (bù) after a verb to show whether an action is possible or feasible. They tell us if someone can or cannot perform the action. For example, 看得完 (kàn de wán) means “can finish reading” while 看不完 (kàn bù wán) means “cannot finish reading.”
You can turn most result complements into potential complements by adding 得 (de) for “can” or 不 (bù) for “cannot.” For example, 找到 (zhǎo dào) means “to find,” but 找得到 (zhǎo de dào) means “can find,” and 找不到 (zhǎo bù dào) means “cannot find.”
In other words, result complements focus on the actual result, whereas potential complements focus on the ability or possibility of achieving that result.
Let’s look at some common potential complements in Mandarin:
🔄 了 (liǎo): To Finish or Manage to Do Something
了 (liǎo) is a versatile potential complement that shows whether someone is able or unable to finish or manage a task, often influenced by external factors. It’s subtly different from using 不能 (bù néng), as it often implies something beyond one’s control.
📚 Structure:
Affirmative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 得 + 了 + [Object]
Negative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 不 + 了 + [Object]
Example:
这个任务今天做得了。
这 / 个 / 任务 / 今天 / 做 / 得 / 了 / 。
zhè ge rènwù jīntiān zuò de liǎo.
This task can be finished today.
This / (measure word 个) / task / today / do / 得 / (potential complement 了).
The potential complement 得了 (de liǎo) shows the ability to finish the task, suggesting it’s possible given the circumstances.
🏆 着 (zháo): To Succeed in Achieving or Reaching
着 (zháo) as a potential complement indicates whether someone can achieve or reach something, often involving effort or attempting to accomplish a task. It’s similar to 到 (dào), but 着 (zháo) emphasizes the ability to successfully complete or attain something.
📚 Structure:
Affirmative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 得 + 着 + [Object]
Negative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 不 + 着 + [Object]
For example:
我今天见不着他。
我 / 今天 / 见 / 不 / 着 / 他 / 。
wǒ jīntiān jiàn bù zháo tā
I can’t meet him today.
I / today / meet / not / (potential complement 着) / him.
The potential complement 不着 (bù zháo) indicates the inability to meet him, suggesting circumstances that prevent the meeting from happening.
💰 起 (qǐ): To Afford
起 (qǐ) is specifically related to the concept of affordability, both in terms of money and effort. When you use 起 (qǐ) with a verb, you’re talking about whether you can afford to do something, either financially or practically.
📚 Structure:
Affirmative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 得 + 起 + [Object]
Negative: [Subject] + [Verb] + 不 + 起 + [Object]
For example:
我买得起这辆车。
我 / 买 / 得 / 起 / 这 / 辆 / 车。
wǒ mǎi de qǐ zhè liàng chē
I can afford this car.
I / buy / 得 / (potential complement 起) / this / (measure word 辆 for vehicles) / car.
The potential complement 得起 (de qǐ) shows that it’s within one’s financial means to buy the car.
📝 Recap: Result Complements vs. Potential Complements
In Mandarin, result complements and potential complements both modify verbs, but they serve different purposes:
Result Complement:
你听懂了吗?
nǐ tīng dǒng le ma?
“Did you understand?”
This focuses on the outcome — whether the action of listening resulted in understanding.
Potential Complement:
你听得懂吗?
nǐ tīng de dǒng ma?
“Can you understand?”
This focuses on the possibility — whether understanding is possible.
Key Takeaway: Use result complements to discuss what happened, and potential complements to discuss what can happen.
⛏️ Practice Makes Perfect
Ready to challenge yourself with some practical exercises? Now that you’ve learned about potential complements and how they differ from result complements, it’s time to apply that knowledge. Translate these English sentences into Mandarin, focusing on using the correct potential complement. Remember, the goal here is to convey not just the action, but the possibility or ability to complete it. Let’s see how well you can use these structures!
I can’t finish reading this book today.
Can you find him at the station?
We can’t afford to buy such an expensive house.
She can’t meet the deadline.
Can you afford this bag?
🌟 Practice More with Pearls of Mandarin 🌟
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PMW: Translation – These sheets offer detailed corrections on the translation exercises, helping you understand the nuances of Mandarin.
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That’s a wrap for today!
This weekend, look out for your PMW: Translation and PMW: Listening practice sheets. They’ll give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned and keep improving your Mandarin skills.
Happy Learning,
Pierre 🐼