Chinese Complement – 下 xià

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, 下 xià can be used as a result/directional complement to show that there is enough space, capacity, or ability to accommodate something. This use is very common in daily spoken Chinese.

Structure

V + 得 de or 不 bu + 下 xià

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
There isn’t enough room in his bag for five 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!

你nǐ喝hē不bù喝hē得de下xià10 罐guàn啤酒píjiǔ？ 你nǐ喝hē不bù喝hē得de下xià10 罐guàn啤酒píjiǔ？
Do you think you can handle ten cans of beer?

我wǒ的de床cháig躺tǎng不bú下xià兩liǎng個ge人rén， 你nǐ得děi睡shuì地上dìshàng我wǒ的de床cháig躺tǎng不bu下xià两liǎng个ge人rén， 你nǐ得děi睡shuì地上dìshang
My bed isn’t big enough for two people. You’ll have to sleep on the floor.

你nǐ是不是shìbúshì吃chī不bú下xià了le？ 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì吃chī不bu下xià了le？
Can you not eat anymore?

Differences

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
There isn’t enough room in his bag for five books.
Focus: space / capacity

他tā的de包包bāobāo裝zhuāng不bù了liǎo5本běn書shū他tā的de包包bāobāo装zhuāng不bu了liǎo5本běn书shū
It’s not possible for his bag to fit five books.
Focus: ability / possibility (can or cannot)

我wǒ喝hē不bù了liǎo酒jiǔ我wǒ喝hē不bu了liǎo酒jiǔ
I can’t drink alcohol. (ability)

我wǒ喝hē不bú下xià了le我wǒ喝hē不bu下xià了le
I’m too full to drink more. (capacity)