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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 7 min read

Result Complements 到, 住, 走 and 上

Add 到, 住, 走 or 上 after a verb to show the result: found it, held it, took it away, or closed it.

Pattern

Verb + 到 / 住 / 走 / 上 (+ object)

The verb is the action, the complement is the result: 找 is “look for”, 找到 is “find”.

我找到我的手机了。

When to use Result Complements 到, 住, 走 and 上

A result complement goes right after the verb and says what the action achieved. 到 means the goal was reached (找到 “find”, 买到 “manage to buy”); 住 means something is held firmly or stopped in place (记住 “remember”, 站住 “stop”); 走 means something is taken away from here (拿走, 带走); 上 means closed, attached or put on (关上门, 穿上衣服, 写上名字). The object comes after the complement, and the negative uses 没: 我没找到。

请记住我的电话号码。

Please remember my phone number.

谁把我的伞拿走了？

Who took my umbrella?

出门的时候，别忘了关上窗户。

Don’t forget to close the windows when you go out.

他昨天睡到中午才起床。

Yesterday he slept until noon before getting up.

Common traps

  • Negate a result with 没, not 不: 我没找到钥匙, not 我不找到钥匙.
  • 找 only means “look for”; for “find” add 到: 我找到我的钥匙了 means “I found my keys”, while 我找我的钥匙 means “I’m looking for my keys”.
  • The object goes after the complement, never between the verb and the complement: 关上门, not 关门上; 记住这个词, not 记这个词住.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

作业太多，我还没做 。

There is too much homework; I have not finished it yet
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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