The structure is always V/Adj + 得得 de + Description. The description can be as short as a single adjective, or as vivid as a whole clause showing what happened as a result.
1 What Is a State Complement?
A state complement describes the state of an action or a person — how something is done, or what condition it’s in. It always follows the pattern V/Adj + 得得 de + Description, where the description is usually an adjective phrase.
他跑得很快他跑得很快
He runs very fast.
她跳舞跳得很美她跳舞跳得很美
She dances beautifully.
奶奶做菜做得很好吃奶奶做菜做得很好吃
Grandma cooks deliciously.
Notice the Pattern
When the verb takes an object (like 跳舞跳舞 tiàowǔ “dance”) or is itself a verb-object compound (like 做菜做菜 zuò cài “cook”), the verb repeats before 得得 de: 跳舞跳舞 tiàowǔ + 跳跳 tiào + 得得 de + description.
2 When the Description Is a Whole Result
The description after 得得 de doesn’t have to be a single adjective — it can be a whole clause describing what actually happened as a result. This is where state complements get vivid: instead of just saying how much, you’re painting the actual outcome.
他累得走不動了他累得走不动了
He was so tired that he couldn’t walk anymore.
孩子高興得跳了起來孩子高兴得跳了起来
The child was so happy that he jumped up.
他飽得快吐了他饱得快吐了
He was so full that he almost threw up.
那隻狗瘦得站不起來那只狗瘦得站不起来
That dog is so skinny that it can’t stand up.
爸爸氣得昏了過去爸爸气得昏了过去
Dad was so angry that he fainted.
第一次看到雪，他激動得又哭又笑第一次看到雪，他激动得又哭又笑
When he saw snow for the first time, he was so excited that he cried and laughed at the same time.
Not the Same as a Degree Complement
State complements can look just like degree complements — both are V/Adj + 得得 de + something. The difference is what follows 得得 de: a degree complement uses a fixed intensifier, while a state complement uses a free description that can be any length, including a full clause.
Degree
他忙得很他忙得很
“He’s very busy.”
State
他忙得沒時間吃飯他忙得没时间吃饭
“He’s so busy he doesn’t have time to eat.”
3 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01He runs very fast.
他跑得很快他跑得很快
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02You’re dressed very nicely today.
你今天穿得很漂亮你今天穿得很漂亮
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03My little sister sings very nicely.
妹妹唱歌唱得很好聽妹妹唱歌唱得很好听
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04The kids had so much fun that they didn’t want to go home.
孩子們玩得不想回家孩子们玩得不想回家
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05He was so scared that his legs went weak.
他嚇得腿軟了他吓得腿软了
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06The teacher was so angry she couldn’t get a word out.
老師氣得說不出話老师气得说不出话
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07The little girl was so scared that she started crying.
小女孩嚇得哭了起來小女孩吓得哭了起来
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08He speaks too fast — I can’t understand.
他說得太快了，我聽不懂他说得太快了，我听不懂
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09Mom was so busy that she forgot to eat lunch.
媽媽忙得忘了吃午飯妈妈忙得忘了吃午饭
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10The kids laughed so hard that their stomachs hurt.
孩子們笑得肚子疼孩子们笑得肚子疼
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