Not all separable verbs are built the same way. 放假放假, 見面见面, 結婚结婚, and 洗澡洗澡 are Verb + Object. 離開离开, 完成完成, and 分開分开 are Verb + Complement — and that difference changes what can slide into the middle.

1Quick Reference

2動賓式动宾式 — Verb-Object Type

These behave exactly like the words in Parts 1 and 2: 了了 le, 過过 guò, and quantities all go between the Verb and the Object. And since the Object is a thing (a holiday, a face, a marriage, a bath) — not a person — meeting or marrying someone requires 跟跟 gēn “with” to introduce them first.

3動補式动补式 — Verb-Complement Type

The second half of a 動補式动补式 word is a 補語补语 bǔyǔ (complement) — something added after the Verb to fill in the result, degree, direction, or possibility of the action. For the full picture of how complements work in Chinese, see the site’s overview of complements →

結果補語结果补语 — Result Complement

This is the most basic type — the second half simply states the outcome of the Verb. 完成完成 wánchéng = 完完 “finish” + 成成 “succeed”; 離開离开 líkāi = 離离 “leave” + 開开 “away.” No 得得 de, no quantity — just the plain word with ordinary aspect markers like 了了 le and 沒没 méi.

For more on how result complements work, see: 結果補語 — Result Complements →

可能補語可能补语 — Potential Complement

A potential complement says whether the result can or can’t happen — insert 得得 de (can) or 不不 bù (can’t) right between the Verb and the Complement.

For more on how potential complements work, see: 可能補語 — Potential Complements →

數量補語数量补语 — Quantitative Complement

A quantitative complement says how long the result has lasted, or how much of the action is done — and it usually attaches straight onto the Verb, with no 得得 de needed.

For more on how quantitative complements work, see: 數量補語 — Quantitative Complements →

4Common Mistakes

5Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.