Potential Complements 2

Grammar Point:
Potential Complements indicate whether or not an action is possible. In this article, we will discuss other common terms related to Potential Complements. If you are not familiar with Potential Complements and Result Complements, I suggest you read the previous articles first.

• Potential Complements 1 (HSK 3)
• Result Complement 1 (HSK 2)
• Result Complement 2 (HSK 3)

Structure

V + 得 or 不 + 下

It indicates the capacity for holding or containing.

我家wǒjiā很hěn小xiǎo， 只zhǐ住得下zhùdexià兩liǎng個ge人rén我家wǒjiā很hěn小xiǎo， 只zhǐ住得下zhùdexià两liǎng个ge人rén
My house is small. It’s only two people can live there.

他的tāde包包bāobāo裝不下zhuāngbúxià5 本běn書shū他的tāde包包bāobāo装不下zhuāngbuxià5 本běn书shū
His bag contains no more than 4 books.

爸爸bàba吃得下chīdexià3 碗wǎn飯fàn爸爸bàba吃得下chīdexià3 碗wǎn饭fàn
Dad can eat 3 bowls of rice.

這zhè沙發shāfā坐不下zuòbúxià5 個ge人rén，，你nǐ坐zuò地上dìshàng吧ba！ 这zhè沙发shāfā坐不下zuòbuxià5 个ge人rén， 你nǐ坐zuò地上dìshang吧ba！
This sofa can’t fit five people, so you can sit on the floor!

V + 得 or 不 + 起

It indicates a certain standard has been reached, and in most cases, means whether something is affordable or unaffordable. This is true except when the verb used is 看 kàn or 對对 duì.

我wǒ吃得起chīdeqǐ龍蝦lóngxiā我wǒ吃得起chīdeqǐ龙虾lóngxiā
I can afford to eat lobster.

他tā讀不起dúbùqǐ哈佛hāfó大學dàxué他tā读不起dúbuqǐ哈佛hāfó大学dàxué
He couldn’t afford to go to Harvard.
(Not because of his scores or ability.)

FYI
Hey there! Did you know that the cost of education in Taiwan is relatively affordable? According to a 2020 report by the Ministry of Education, the average annual tuition fee for undergraduate programs in public universities was around NT$42,000 (approximately US$1,500), while the average tuition fee for graduate programs was around NT$50,000 (approximately US$1,800).
And the good news is that not many students have to take on debt to pay for their education. In fact, a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in 2020 found that only around 16% of undergraduate students and 11% of graduate students had student loans. Plus, the average amount of debt was relatively low compared to other countries. So, if you’re considering studying in Taiwan, you can rest assured that you won’t have to break the bank to get a degree.

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他tā買得起mǎideqǐ鄉下xiāngxià的de房子fángzi， 但是dànshì買不起mǎibùqǐ城市chéngshì的de房子fángzi他tā买得起mǎideqǐ乡下xiāngxià的de房子fángzi， 但是dànshì买不起mǎibuqǐ城市chéngshì的de房子fángzi
He can afford a house in the countryside, but he cannot afford a house in the city.

很hěn多duō台灣人Táiwānrén養不起yǎngbùqǐ孩子háizi很hěn多duō台湾人Táiwānrén养不起yǎngbuqǐ孩子háizi
Many Taiwanese people cannot afford to raise children.

Special cases：

我wǒ看不起kànbùqǐ不bù努力nǔlì的de人rén我wǒ看不起kànbuqǐ不bù努力nǔlì的de人rén
I look down on people who don’t work hard.
(看得起：to show respect for; to show respect for)

你nǐ睡shuì朋友péngyǒu的de男朋友nánpéngyǒu， 這樣zhèyàng對得起duìdeqǐ你nǐ朋友péngyǒu嗎ma？ 你nǐ睡shuì朋友péngyou的de男朋友nánpéngyou， 这样zhèyàng对得起duìdeqǐ你nǐ朋友péngyou吗ma？
You slept with your friend’s boyfriend. Do you think you are treating your friend fairly?
(對对不起：let sb. down; unworthy of; unfair to)

想 + 得 or 不 + 起來/起来

It indicates remember or cannot remember.

我wǒ想xiǎng不bù起來qǐlái你的nǐde前女友qiánnǚyǒu叫jiào什麼shénme我wǒ想xiǎng不bu起来qǐlái你的nǐde前女友qiánnǚyou叫jiào什么shénme
I can’t remember what your ex-girlfriend’s name was.

你nǐ想xiǎng得de起來qǐlái上次shàngcì我們wǒmen一起yìqǐ喝酒hējiǔ的de酒館jiǔguǎn在zài哪裡nǎlǐ嗎ma？ 你nǐ想xiǎng得de起来qǐlái上次shàngcì我们wǒmen一起yìqǐ喝酒hējiǔ的de酒馆jiǔguǎn在zài哪里nǎlǐ吗ma？
Do you remember where the bar was that we drank together last time?

年紀niánjì大dà了le， 很hěn多duō事shì都dōu想xiǎng不bù起來qǐlái了le年纪niánjì大dà了le， 很hěn多duō事shì都dōu想xiǎng不bu起来qǐlái了le
As I get older, I can’t remember many things.

V + 得 or 不 + 動/动

 It indicates have or lack of energy or physical strength required to do something.

你nǐ一個人yígerén搬得動bāndedòng這zhè張zhāng桌子zhuōzi嗎ma？ 你nǐ一个人yígerén搬得动bāndedòng这zhè张zhāng桌子zhuōzi吗ma？
Can you move this table by yourself?

這zhè牛排niúpái太tài硬yìng了le， 我wǒ咬不動yǎobúdòng这zhè牛排niúpái太tài硬yìng了le， 我wǒ咬不动yǎobudòng
This steak is too hard, I can’t bite it.

我wǒ走不動zǒubúdòng了le， 休息xiūxí一下yíxià吧ba我wǒ走不动zǒubudòng了le， 休息xiūxi一下yíxià吧ba
I can’t walk anymore, let’s take a break.

你nǐ吃chī太tài多duō了le， 我wǒ抱不動bàobúdòng你nǐ你nǐ吃chī太tài多duō了le， 我wǒ抱不动bàobudòng你nǐ
You ate too much, I can’t carry you.

Special one: V得 and V不得

It indicates whether something is allowed or not allowed to be done.

這zhè種zhǒng藥yào吃得chīdé還是háishì吃不得chībùdé， 要yào看kàn醫生yīshēng怎麼zěnme說shuō这zhè种zhǒng药yào吃得chīde还是háishì吃不得chībude， 要yào看kàn医生yīshēng怎么zěnme说shuō
This kind of medicine can eat or can not eat, depending on what the doctor said.

那nà孩子háizi打不得dǎbùdé也yě罵不得màbùdé那nà孩子háizi打不得dǎbude也yě骂不得màbude
That child cannot be punished or scolded.

這zhè種zhǒng話huà說不得shuōbùdé这zhè种zhǒng话huà说不得shuōbude
Such words should not be said.

• Potential Complements Practice